NORTHERN IRELAND

Departmental Early Retirement

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people took early retirement from his Department in each of the last five years.

Shaun Woodward: The following table provides details of the number of staff who took early retirement from the Northern Ireland Office in each of the last five years.
	
		
			   Number 
			 2004-05 7 
			 2005-06 6 
			 2006-07 2 
			 2007-08 1 
			 2008-09 (to date) 1

Departmental Information Officers

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much was spent on employing press and communications officers in his Department in each of the last three years.

Shaun Woodward: The following table shows expenditure on employing press and communications officers within the Northern Ireland Office (excluding agencies and executive NDPBs) in each of the last three financial years.
	
		
			   Northern Ireland Office  (£000) 
			 2005-06 596 
			 2006-07 686 
			 2007-08 532

Departmental Internet

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland with reference to the answer of 4 November 2008,  Official Report, columns 336-37W, on Government departments: information and communications technology, which IP addresses are used by  (a) his Department and (b) computers in the offices of its (i) Ministers, (ii) communications officials and (iii) special advisers.

Paul Goggins: To help defend against electronic attack, it is standard information security practice for corporate IT systems not to publish internal IP addresses. When accessing internet websites, the IP addresses of all of the computers on the Northern Ireland Office internal office IT system are hidden behind the following IP addresses which are publicly available—195.92.40.49 and 62.25.106.209. These IP addresses are shared with other government departments that use the Government secure intranet.

Departmental Official Hospitality

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what records his Department maintains of its expenditure on  (a) official hospitality and  (b) alcohol for official hospitality.

Shaun Woodward: Expenditure relating to official hospitality is recorded on the departmental finance system and is inclusive of any expenditure on alcohol for official hospitality.
	Expenditure on hospitality is set out in accordance with the principles of Managing Public Money and the Treasury handbook on Regularity and Propriety.

Departmental Older Workers

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland with reference to the answer of 10 November 2008,  Official Report, column 772W, on departmental older workers, what recent steps his Department has taken to encourage older people to apply to work in the Department.

Shaun Woodward: All advertisements to posts in the Northern Ireland Office (NIO) carry an Equal Opportunities statement to the effect that the NIO is an Equal Opportunities Employer. This covers all section 75 categories, including age.

Departmental Pensions

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland with reference to the answer of 24 November 2008,  Official Report, column 882W, on departmental pensions, what the reasons are for the increases in the cost of pension contributions in each year.

Shaun Woodward: There are three reasons which account for the increases in the cost of pension contributions in each year. Increases in scheme membership, salaries paid and employer's accruing superannuation liability charges.

Departmental Pensions

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland with reference to the answer of 24 November 2008,  Official Report, column 882W, on departmental pensions, what the future projections are of the cost of pension contributions incurred in each financial year up to 2015.

Shaun Woodward: The Northern Ireland Office has not projected the future estimated cost of departmental pension contributions that may be incurred, beyond the 2008-09 financial year.

Departmental Press Releases

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland with reference to the answer of 13 November 2008,  Official Report, column 1318W, on departmental press releases, how many press releases his Department has issued in the last five years.

Shaun Woodward: Records of the number of press releases issued by my Department (core only) in the last five years are shown in the following table.
	
		
			   Number of press releases issued by NIO 
			 2003-04 188 
			 2004-05 289 
			 2005-06 362 
			 2006-07 360 
			 2007-08 198

Departmental Press Releases

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland with reference to the answer of 13 November 2008,  Official Report, column 1318W, on departmental press releases, how many press releases each of his press officers has released in the last 12 months.

Shaun Woodward: The Department issued 206 press releases in the period 1 December 2007 to 30 November 2008. All press releases are issued centrally from the press office and not by individual press officers.

Departmental Recruitment

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland with reference to the answer of 13 November 2008,  Official Report, columns 1320-1W, on recruitment and religion, in what ways the Department of Finance and Personnel has liaised with representatives of ethnic communities in the last 12 months.

Shaun Woodward: The Department of Finance and Personnel is a Department within the Northern Ireland Administration and this matter is their responsibility.

Departmental Recruitment

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland with reference to the answer of 13 November 2008,  Official Report, columns 1320-1W, on recruitment and religion, how many people have been recruited to posts in his Department from non-Christian backgrounds in the last 12 months.

Shaun Woodward: The Northern Ireland Office (NIO) does not monitor the religion or beliefs of its staff. In accordance with the requirements of the Fair Employment and Treatment (NI) Order 1998, those NIO staff working in Northern Ireland are monitored for community background only.

Gifts

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many members of staff in his Department have received gifts valued at £100 or higher in the course of their duties in each of the last three years; what these gifts were; and from whom they were received.

Shaun Woodward: No Northern Ireland Office staff have received gifts valued at £100 or higher in the course of their duties in the last three years.

Languages

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what estimate he has made of the number of people in Northern Ireland who are fluent speakers of  (a) Polish,  (b) Mandarin,  (c) Irish,  (d) Ulster Scots,  (f) Portuguese,  (g) Spanish,  (h) French and  (i) German.

Shaun Woodward: My office does not hold this information as this is a devolved matter.
	The provision of official information on Northern Ireland's population is the responsibility of the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency which is an Executive agency within the Department of Finance and Personnel.

Olympic Games 2012

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland with reference to the answer of 18 November 2008,  Official Report, column 260W, on the Olympic Games 2012, 
	(1)  what plans his Department has to involve Northern Ireland in the 2012 Olympic games;
	(2)  when he next expects to hold discussions with  (a) the First Minister and  (b) the Deputy First Minister on this matter.

Shaun Woodward: I have no ministerial responsibility in respect of the Olympic and Paralympic games 2012 and accordingly I have no plans to hold discussions with the First and Deputy First Minister on this matter.
	However, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport and the Minister for the Olympics are determined to ensure that the whole of the UK is engaged with and benefits from the games in 2012. His Department and the London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games are working closely with the Northern Ireland Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure, which leads and co-ordinates all aspects relating to the 2012 games for Northern Ireland, to maximise benefits for Northern Ireland.

PSNI: Finance

Jeffrey M Donaldson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 
	(1)  what the estimated resource expenditure is of the Public Prosecution Service in the current three year Comprehensive Spending Review period;
	(2)  what the estimated resource expenditure is of the Northern Ireland Prison Service in the current three year Comprehensive Spending Review period;
	(3)  what the estimated resource expenditure is of the Forensic Science Northern Ireland Service in the current three year Comprehensive Spending Review period;
	(4)  what the estimated resource expenditure is of the Youth Justice Agency in the current three year Comprehensive Spending Review period;
	(5)  what the estimated resource expenditure is of the Compensation Agency in the current three year Comprehensive Spending Review period;
	(6)  what the estimated resource expenditure is of the Independent Assessor for Police Service of Northern Ireland Recruitment Applications in the current three year Comprehensive Spending Review period;
	(7)  what the estimated resource expenditure is of the Northern Ireland Policing Board in the current three year Comprehensive Spending Review period;
	(8)  what the estimated resource expenditure is of the Office of the Police Ombudsman in the current three year Comprehensive Spending Review period;
	(9)  what the estimated resource expenditure is of the Northern Ireland Police Fund in the current three year comprehensive spending review period;
	(10)  what the estimated resource expenditure is of the Royal Ulster Constabulary George Cross Foundation in the current three year Comprehensive Spending Review period;
	(11)  what the estimated resource expenditure is of the Criminal Justice Inspection Northern Ireland in the current three year Comprehensive Spending Review period;
	(12)  what the estimated resource expenditure is of the Northern Ireland Probation Board in the current three year Comprehensive Spending Review period;
	(13)  what the estimated resource expenditure is of the Northern Ireland Law Commission in the current three year Comprehensive Spending Review period;
	(14)  what the estimated resource expenditure is of the Independent Assessor for Police Service of Northern Ireland recruitment applications in the current three year Comprehensive Spending Review period;
	(15)  what the estimated resource expenditure is of the Parades Commission in the current three year Comprehensive Spending Review period;
	(16)  what the estimated resource expenditure is of the Police Rehabilitation and Retraining Trust in the current three year Comprehensive Spending Review period;
	(17)  what the estimated resource expenditure is of the Independent Monitoring Boards of  (a) Maghaberry,  (b) Magilligan and  (c) Hydebank Wood prisons in the current three year Comprehensive Spending Review period;
	(18)  what the estimated resource expenditure is of the Prisoner Ombudsman in the current three year Comprehensive Spending Review period;
	(19)  what the estimated resource expenditure is of the Life Sentence Review Commissioners in the current three year Comprehensive Spending Review period;
	(20)  what the estimated resource expenditure is of the Commissioner for Hearings under Prison Rule 109B (Loss of Remission Commissioner) in the current three year Comprehensive Spending Review period;
	(21)  what the estimated resource expenditure is of the State Pathologist in the current three year Comprehensive Spending Review period.

Shaun Woodward: The following table shows the current resource budget allocations, under the 2007 comprehensive spending review (CSR07), for the bodies requested.
	
		
			  £000 
			  Body  2008-09  2009-10  2010-11 
			 Public Prosecution Service 36,558 35,714 36,677 
			 Northern Ireland Prison Service 134,868 139,800 144,501 
			 Forensic Science Agency 2,430 1,589 1,666 
			 Youth Justice Agency 21,089 21,771 22,457 
			 Compensation Agency 49,992 16,032 15,608 
			 Northern Ireland Policing Board 8,666 8,797 9,035 
			 Office of the Police Ombudsman 9,482 9,938 10,199 
			 Northern Ireland Police Fund 1,849 1,899 1,950 
			 RUC George Cross Foundation 154 158 162 
			 Criminal Justice Inspection Northern Ireland 1,453 1,525 1,561 
			 Northern Ireland Probation Board 16,778 18,597 19,997 
			 Northern Ireland Law Commission 500 514 527 
			 Independent Assessor for Police Service of Northern Ireland Recruitment Applications 25 26 27 
			 Parades Commission 1,141 1,192 1,226 
			 Police Rehabilitation and Retraining Trust 2,234 2,294 2,356 
			 Independent Monitoring Boards 110 110 110 
			 Prisoner Ombudsman 619 683 699 
			 Life Sentence Review Commissioners 801 951 1,271 
			 Commissioner for Hearings under Prison Rule 109B(1) 12 12 12 
			 State Pathologist 2,190 1,766 1,800 
			 (1) £12,000 included within Prison Service figures

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Agriculture: Subsidies

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on what date the EU target of 96.14 per cent. of payments by value under the single payment scheme in England was met in each of the scheme years to date; and when he expects the target to be met for the 2008 scheme year.

Jane Kennedy: The Rural Payments Agency (RPA) announced on its website that it had exceeded the EU target of 96.154 per cent. of payments, by value, on the following dates:
	
		
			   Date 
			 2005 2 August 2006 
			 2006 13 June 2007 
			 2007 11 June 2008 
		
	
	RPA is not in a position to predict the date when payments made for the 2008 scheme year will exceed the EU target, as this will depend on the associated values of the particular claims as they complete validation and are ready to be paid out.
	RPA is committed to meeting its formal targets of making 75 per cent. of payments, by value, by the end of January 2009 and 90 per cent. by value by the end of March 2009.

Agriculture: Subsidies

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many claims of under  (a) £300 and  (b) £500 were made under the single farm payments scheme in England in 2007.

Jane Kennedy: holding answer 9 December 2008
	 Under the Single Payment Scheme 2007 in England, to date 10,898 payments have been made where the claim value was under £300 and 16,605 payments have been made where the claim value was under £500. It should be noted that these numbers may reduce if payments are subsequently voided.

Agriculture: Subsidies

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much his Department spent on inspections to support the work of the Rural Payments Agency in each of the last five years.

Jane Kennedy: holding answer 11 December 2008
	The direct costs of the Rural Payment Agency (RPA) Inspectorate for the last five years are as follows:
	
		
			  Financial year  £ million 
			 2003-04 14.5 
			 2004-05 19.7 
			 2005-06 19.0 
			 2006-07 23.0 
			 2007-08 19.6 
		
	
	The Inspectorate also carries out inspections on behalf of other administrative bodies in addition to RPA such as Natural England. These costs include administering, carrying out and reporting on physical inspections but do not include overheads or the costs of administering the results of those inspections.
	The costs for 2004-05 onwards include expenditure relating to services provided by agents.
	The increase in the 2006-07 costs were as a result of merging Horticultural Marketing Inspectorate into the Inspectorate.
	The Environment Agency also undertakes inspections in support of the work of the RPA but does not allocate any specific costs towards such inspections because the majority of visits are undertaken as a matter of course. However the Environment Agency has identified costs of additional reporting and it is estimated that the following is spent per annum:
	
		
			   £ 
			 Cost of inspections 15,500 
			 Cost of admin 25,600 
			 Additional costs 10,000 
			 Total 51,100 
		
	
	Animal Health also spent the following amount on inspections to support the work of the RPA:
	
		
			  Financial year  £ 
			 2006-07 47,291 
			 2007-08 84,007 
		
	
	Animal Health does not hold figures for 2003-04 and 2004-05 because the State Veterinary Service was part of Core DEFRA during that period. 2005-06 was the first year for the State Veterinary Service as an Executive Agency of DEFRA and this was a transition period in respect of data.

Animal Health: Training

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs with reference to the answer of 19 November 2008,  Official Report, column 476W, on inspections, if he will break down the cost of training programmes for 2007-08 by category of programme.

Jane Kennedy: holding answer 9 December 2008
	 Animal Health do not hold figures of training by programme. This information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Bluetongue Disease: Import Controls

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what precautionary steps his Department has taken to prevent the spread of BTV8 and BTV1 from imported live stock to domestic sheep and cattle in the UK.

Jane Kennedy: DEFRA continues to conduct post-import tests on all imported animals for all BT serotypes. This means we can detect all types of Bluetongue through our routine testing.
	We have an agreed policy for controlling incursions of any new serotypes under the existing UK Bluetongue Control Strategy. This strategy was reviewed recently in light of this year's experience and to address risk from other serotypes, and was published on the DEFRA website on 1 December.
	Details of the Control Strategy are currently available on the DEFRA website. Copies will also be placed in the House Library.
	DEFRA continues to urge industry to consider the risks and check the health and vaccination status of animals when sourcing any animals, from within the UK or abroad.

Bluetongue Disease: Vaccination

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate he has made of the level of bluetongue vaccine uptake in England.

Jane Kennedy: Vaccination against bluetongue in England is voluntary, and delivered through existing veterinary medicine supply chains, an approach agreed with the livestock industry to ensure the simple, rapid roll-out of vaccine to protect animals earlier this year. Because the approach to vaccination is voluntary, no definitive figures can be provided on the numbers of livestock actually vaccinated.
	However, to date, sales data from the supply chain suggests the overall uptake of vaccine across the whole of England is around 60 per cent. Initial vaccine uptake was high—reaching between 80 per cent. and 90 per cent. in the South East and East of England, but uptake in the counties of northern England and in Wales has been lower.

Bottles: Recycling

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate his Department has made of the cost of introducing a deposit and return scheme for bottles; how such a scheme would be applied; and how it would work in practice.

Jane Kennedy: DEFRA has not recently estimated the cost of introducing a deposit and return system for bottles. A study undertaken for DEFRA in 2004-05 estimated that the annual operating costs for such a system would be in the region of £100 million. We recently commissioned a study by Environmental Resources Management which looked into the advantages and disadvantages of deposit systems and the issues that need to be addressed in setting up such systems. This report will be published shortly.

Bovine TB Eradication Group

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the terms of reference of the Bovine TB Eradication Group are.

Jane Kennedy: The Terms of Reference of the Bovine TB Eradication Group for England are:
	To make recommendations to the Secretary of State on bovine TB and its eradication.
	To review the current TB strategy and control measures and develop a plan for reducing the incidence of bovine TB from cattle in England and moving towards eventual eradication. To assess options to help farmers in high incidence areas maintain viable businesses when under disease restrictions.
	To make recommendations on other issues as they arise. DEFRA may also choose to refer specific issues to the group.
	The group will look at the options available to address infection in cattle and to reduce the risk of transmission between cattle and between cattle and wildlife, and consider costs and benefits in making recommendations for action. It will consider options for using vaccination in cattle and badgers. It will also consider any exceptional circumstances or new scientific evidence that might arise relating to the established policy on badger culling for control of TB.
	A priority output from the work of this group will be a series of measures which can be submitted to the European Commission for approval as part of a formal eradication plan.

Departmental Waste Disposal

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what percentage of the waste generated by  (a) his Department and  (b) the Environment Agency has been recycled or composted in each of the last three years.

Jane Kennedy: DEFRA recycled and composted the following amounts of waste in each of the last three years.
	
		
			  Tonnes/percentage 
			   2004-05  2005-06  2006-07 
			 Total waste 4,283 5,716 5,252 
			 
			 Recycled/composted 948 1,640 1,385 
			 Percentage recycled 22 29 26 
			 
			 Reused/incinerated with energy recovery 1,262 1,047 1,506 
			 Percentage recovered 52 47 55 
		
	
	At this time the Sustainable Development Commission has yet to publish Government data for 2007-08.
	DEFRA has increased the number of sites on which it reports from 39 in 2004-05 to 54 in 2006-07. The waste data also include laboratory waste. A large amount of laboratory waste is hazardous and cannot be recycled.
	The following table shows Environment Agency estimates for waste recycled from its offices and depots for the last two financial years. Prior to 2006-07 records were not held centrally and are therefore unavailable.
	
		
			  Kilograms/percentage 
			   2006-07  2007-08 
			 Total waste 448,227 508,324 
			 Landfilled 170,055 153,461 
			 Recycled 267,956 351,634 
			 Percentage recycled 60 69

Farmers: Income

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate he has made of the total income generated by farming in England  (a) in absolute terms expressed in pounds sterling and  (b) as a percentage of gross domestic product in each of the last three years.

Jane Kennedy: Latest estimates of Total Income from Farming for England for the last three years are shown as follows.
	
		
			  Total Income from Farming: England 
			   £ million 
			 2005 1,415.5 
			 2006 1,554.6 
			 2007 (provisional) 1,630.6 
		
	
	Total Income from Farming (TIFF) is income generated by production within the agriculture industry, including subsidies. It represents business profits plus remuneration for work done by owners and other unpaid workers.
	Agriculture's contribution to the economy is measured by its contribution to Gross Value Added. Gross Value Added differs from Total Income from Farming in that it excludes consumption of fixed capital, subsidies and taxes that are decoupled from production, compensation of employees, net rent and interest. The latest estimates of Gross Value Added for agriculture expressed as a percentage of Gross Value Added in England are shown as follows; an estimate for 2007 is not yet available.
	
		
			  Agriculture's GVA as percentage of regional GVA: England 
			   Percentage 
			 2005 0.43 
			 2006 0.44 
			 2007 (provisional) Not yet available

Farmers: Markets

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what research his Department has commissioned on the effects of farmers' markets on  (a) producers and  (b) consumers.

Jane Kennedy: In recent years DEFRA has commissioned general research relating to regional and local food and these studies have examined the impacts of farmers markets on both producers and consumers. A recent example of such a study is research carried out for DEFRA by the University of Plymouth entitled, "Understanding of Consumer Attitudes and Actual Purchasing Behaviour, with Reference to Local and Regional Foods". A copy of this report can be found on the DEFRA website.

Hazardous Substances: Waste Disposal

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much hazardous waste was sent to landfill in each of the last three years.

Jane Kennedy: The amount of hazardous waste landfilled in each of the last three years was:
	
		
			   Tonnes 
			 2005 1,010,700 
			 2006 900,000 
			 2007 850,000

Hazardous Substances: Waste Disposal

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of arrangements for the management of hazardous waste; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: Government set out the detailed arisings, trends and projections on hazardous waste in Waste Strategy for England 2007 (annex C9). The document includes an analysis of facility needs for England in order to cope with changes in legislation affecting the management of hazardous waste. That analysis identified priority needs for certain facilities, which continue to exist. We are working closely with the Environment Agency and the waste sector to help develop a more detailed picture of facility needs and to develop the strategy to help realise those facilities.

Horse Racing: Animal Breeding

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will bring forward legislative proposals to limit the number of thoroughbred horses which may be bred by the racing industry; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: We have no plans to bring forward such proposals.

Horses: Artificial Insemination

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many frozen semen straws from the Hannoverian stallion (Weltmeyer 31-44035-84) have been imported since 1 January 1989; and how many such straws have been checked by an Agricultural Development Advisory Service vet.

Jane Kennedy: This information can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Livestock: Disease Control

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what funding his Department has provided for research on farm animal diseases in each of the last five years.

Jane Kennedy: The figures for DEFRA funding for research on farm animal diseases over the last five years are as follows:
	
		
			   £ million 
			 2007-8 34.5 
			 2006-7 35.1 
			 2005-6 34.8 
			 2006-5 35.6 
			 2003-4 34.0 
		
	
	Figures taken from records held within the DEFRA Animal Health and Welfare Evidence Base Unit.

Livestock: Transport

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will conduct a cost-benefit analysis of the six-day movement rule for farm livestock.

Jane Kennedy: In 2003, an extensive cost benefit analysis into movement standstills demonstrated the significant benefits of standstill regimes in reducing both the size and cost of a disease outbreak. These conclusions remain valid. Standstills confer significant protection when disease is present but undetected. It would not be desirable to remove this protection from the livestock industry.
	This is a devolved issue and while we in DEFRA have no plans to review the standstill. The Welsh Assembly and the Scottish Parliament would need to be consulted to determine the position in Wales and Scotland.

Packaging: Recycling

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many companies have been  (a) prosecuted and  (b) convicted of being in breach of the Producer Responsibility Obligation (Packaging Waste) Regulations.

Jane Kennedy: Since the implementation of the Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations in 1998 there have been around 375 successful prosecutions in the UK.
	In 2007, the last compliance year, there were 62 successful prosecutions in England and Wales resulting in fines of over £700,000. There were no prosecutions in Scotland or Northern Ireland.

Pet Travel Scheme

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions he has had with  (a) Cabinet colleagues and  (b) European Union Commissioners on the pet movement derogation and its expiry date in June 2010.

Jane Kennedy: My Department has held a number of meetings with other Government Departments, the Commission and other member states regarding pet movement controls and are planning to have further discussions with the Commission in the new year.

Recycling

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps are being taken to increase levels of processing of material awaiting recycling.

Jane Kennedy: The UK's performance in increasing recycling and reducing reliance on landfill has improved significantly in recent years. We have also seen increased demand for recyclable materials for developing economies, reflected in the unprecedented rise in the value of these materials earlier this year. Demand and prices for some materials have now dropped significantly and we want to ensure that this does not undermine public confidence in the value of recycling, nor lead to unacceptable environmental consequences. Indeed, resource efficiency and waste prevention are even more important during the economic downturn.
	On 5 December, the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) launched a new advice forum for local authorities to help them deal with lower prices and weaker demand for recyclable materials.
	Recovered materials are still a valuable resource and, as with other commodities, prices can rise or fall sharply. Even in the current climate, not all commodities are affected. The price paid for glass, for example, continues to remain stable. Despite weaker markets for some recovered materials, WRAP research shows there is still strong demand for many higher quality recyclable materials. While demand for some lower quality recycled materials (e.g. mixed plastic trays, tubs, and pots) has dropped, there is still capacity and demand for other higher quality recyclables with low levels of contamination (such as plastic bottles and glass).

Recycling

Geoffrey Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the effects of prevailing market conditions within the recycling industry on  (a) levels of waste treatment and  (b) waste storage capacity.

Jane Kennedy: The UK's performance in increasing recycling and reducing reliance on landfill has improved significantly in recent years. We have also seen increased demand for recyclable materials for developing economies, reflected in the unprecedented rise in the value of these materials earlier this year. Demand and prices for some materials have now dropped significantly and we want to ensure that this does not undermine public confidence in the value of recycling, or lead to unacceptable environmental consequences. Indeed, resource efficiency and waste prevention are even more important during the economic downturn.
	On 5 December, the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) launched a new advice forum for local authorities to help them deal with lower prices and weaker demand for recyclable materials.
	Recovered materials are still a valuable resource and, as with other commodities, prices can rise or fall sharply. Even in the current climate, not all commodities are affected. The price paid for glass, for example, continues to remain stable. Despite weaker markets for some recovered materials, WRAP research shows there is still strong demand for many higher quality recyclable materials. While demand for some lower quality recycled materials (e.g. mixed plastic trays, tubs, and pots) has dropped, there is still capacity and demand for other higher quality recyclables with low levels of contamination (such as plastic bottles and glass).
	WRAP and the Environment Agency are monitoring current levels of waste storage by local authorities and waste management companies. The situation is dynamic. There has been no marked increase in requests for additional temporary storage of waste. WRAP and the Environment Agency will continue to monitor the situation closely.

Textiles: Waste Disposal

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what statistics his Department holds on the amount of textile waste  (a) recycled and  (b) sent to landfill in each of the last five years.

Jane Kennedy: The following table details the amount of textiles waste from household sources recycled in England since 2003-04. This is likely to underestimate household textile recycling, as some will be recorded as co-mingled waste. No reliable data are currently available for textile waste sent to landfill.
	
		
			  Recycled textiles 
			   Thousand tonnes 
			 2003-04 59 
			 2004-05 71 
			 2005-06(1) 86 
			 2006-07(1) 103 
			 2007-08(1) 113 
			 (1) Contains a small amount of municipally collected textiles from non-household sources.   Source:  WasteDataFlow.

Waste Management: Fly Tipping

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what steps he is taking to encourage local authorities to allow landowners to take fly-tipped waste to local authority waste management facilities; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what steps he is taking to help landowners deal with fly-tipped waste on private land;
	(3)  whether he plans to give  (a) local authorities and  (b) the Environment Agency an increased role in dealing with fly-tipped waste on private land.

Jane Kennedy: Landowners may dispose of waste at local authority waste management facilities but will often be charged for disposal given that it is not household waste. We have no plans to impose a new, unfunded burden on local authorities by obliging them to accept fly-tipped waste free of charge.
	DEFRA is this year funding the Environment Agency to work with major landowner organisations on the National Fly-tipping Prevention Group. The Landowner Partnership Programme aims to quantify the extent of fly-tipping on private land and, through the dissemination of best practice techniques, reduce the financial impact of waste crime on private landowners.

DEFENCE

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence with reference to the answer of 19 November 2008,  Official Report, columns 487-9W, on compensation, of the 53 personnel who were seriously injured in Afghanistan in 2006 and 2007, how many registered a claim for compensation; and of those who registered claims, what the  (a) 10th,  (b) 25th,  (c) 50th,  (d) 75th and  (e) 90th percentiles were for the length of time from injury to registration.

Kevan Jones: Of the 53 personnel who were seriously injured in Afghanistan in 2006 and 2007, 42 personnel have subsequently made a claim for compensation as at 13 November 2008.
	The following table presents the 10th, 25th, 50th, 75th and 90th percentiles for the distribution of time, in days, from the date of injury to the date on which compensation claims were registered with the Service Personnel and Veterans' Agency.
	
		
			  Percentiles for the distribution of time, in days, from injury to registration for seriously injured personnel 
			  Percentile  Days 
			 10th 41 
			 25th 61 
			 50th 138 
			 75th 202 
			 90th 347

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence with reference to the answer of 19 November 2008,  Official Report, columns 487-9W, on compensation, of the 41 personnel who were very seriously injured in Afghanistan in 2006 and 2007, how many registered a claim for compensation; and of those who registered claims, what the  (a) 10th,  (b) 25th,  (c) 50th,  (d) 75th and  (e) 90th percentiles were for the length of time from injury to registration.

Kevan Jones: Of the 41 personnel who were very seriously injured in Afghanistan in 2006 and 2007, 38 personnel have subsequently made a claim for compensation as at 13 November 2008.
	The following table presents the 10th, 25th, 50th, 75th and 90th percentiles for the distribution of time, in days, from the date of injury to the date on which compensation claims were registered with the Service Personnel and Veterans' Agency.
	
		
			  Percentiles for the distribution of time, in days, from injury to registration for very seriously injured personnel 
			  Percentile  Days 
			 10th 56 
			 25th 81 
			 50th 142 
			 75th 226 
			 90th 303

Armed Forces: Animals

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many animals have been used in defence research projects in each of the last three years.

Quentin Davies: The majority of animal procedures undertaken over the last three years for Defence research were performed by Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) at Porton Down.
	Dstl Porton Down submits annual returns to the Home Office detailing the number of procedures undertaken which involve the use of animals as defined in the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986.
	In the years 2005 to 2007, the annual returns to the Home Office, broken down by species are detailed in the following table.
	
		
			   G.  Pig  Ferret  Mouse  Pig  Rabbit  Rat  Sheep  Non-human primates  Total 
			 2005 661 60 20,016 127 3 195 2 54 21,118 
			 2006 545 0 15,986 123 0 335 4 52 17,045 
			 2007 647 0 17,095 74 5 359 2 75 18,257 
		
	
	In addition, testing on live goats took place at QinetiQ Alverstone as part of MOD's Submarine Escape and Abandonment System (SMERAS). 64 procedures were carried out in 2005 and 60 procedures were carried out on a herd of approximately 40 goats until November 2006 when animal procedures stopped.

Armed Forces: Animals

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what current defence research projects involve the use of animal procedures.

Quentin Davies: The Department is currently undertaking research into defence medical countermeasures, combat casualty care and trauma assessment programmes, which by necessity involve the use of animal procedures.

Armed Forces: Animals

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many and what type of animals are kept at public expense in each of the armed services.

Kevan Jones: The following table shows the numbers and types of animals kept at public expense in each of the armed services:
	
		
			   Royal Navy  Army  Royal Air Force 
			 Military working dogs 0 165 292 
			 Birds of prey 16 0 0 
			 Horses 0 489 0 
		
	
	For military working dogs, Army data are at 1 August 2008 (the latest date this information was captured). All other data are at 12 December 2008.
	Regimental or unit mascots may be partially funded at public expense. However, many of them are funded to a varying degree from regimental funds in addition to the public purse. The Army currently has the following mascots: two Drum horses; one Indian Black Buck; one Irish Wolfhound; two Mountain goats; two Swalesdale rams; and three Shetland ponies. Neither the RN nor the RAF has any mascots.

Armed Forces: Dogs

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many dog handlers are employed as  (a) civilians and  (b) servicemen in each of the three armed services.

Kevan Jones: The Royal Navy has no military working dog handlers, the Army has 178, and the Royal Air Force has 252. Army data are at 1 August 2008 (which was the last time this information was captured) and RAF data are at 12 December 2008.
	All Army and Royal Air Force military working dog handlers are service personnel.

Armed Forces: Dogs

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many dogs are kept by each of the armed services; and for what purposes.

Kevan Jones: The Royal Navy has no dogs, the Army has 166 dogs and the Royal Air Force has 292 dogs. Army data are at 1 August 2008 (the latest date this information was captured) and RAF data are at 12 December 2008. Dogs are kept for the following purposes:
	
		
			  Type of dog  Army  RAF 
			  Military working dogs   
			 Patrol dogs 82 180 
			 Army/RAF Police — 18 
			 Arms and explosive search 50 36 
			 Vehicle search 20 40 
			 Drug detection 1 18 
			 Tracker 10 — 
			 Infantry patrol 2 — 
			
			  Other   
			 Regimental mascot 1 — 
		
	
	Figures for military working dogs are a snapshot in time, and include those dogs being trained, those in service in the UK and those deployed on operations. It should be noted that the number of holdings may vary weekly according to training input and outflow, together with operational demand.

Armed Forces: Labour Turnover

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the number of  (a) people in the armed forces,  (b) new recruits to the armed forces and  (c) people who have left the armed forces in each of the last five years.

Bob Ainsworth: Information on the number of people in the armed forces, the number of new recruits to the armed forces and the number of people who have left the armed forces in each of the last five years can be found in "Tri-Service Publication (TSP) 1—UK Regular Forces Strengths and Changes".
	TSP 1 is published on monthly basis and the latest information as at 1 October 2008 can be found at:
	http://www.dasa.mod.uk/applications/newWeb/www/index.php?page=48&thiscontent=30&pubType=1&date=2008-11-27&disText=01%20Oct%202008&from=historic&topDate=2009-09-23&PublishTime=09:30:00
	All copies of TSP 1 are available in the Library of the House and also at:
	www.dasa.mod.uk.

Armed Forces: Rescue Services

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what training his Department provides to military personnel on responding to emergencies and natural disasters.

Bob Ainsworth: Those elements of the armed forces which provide specialist capabilities to the civil authorities are regularly trained and exercised for their role. These include explosive ordnance disposal and search and rescue teams, civil contingencies reaction forces and counter terrorist forces.
	Other elements of the armed forces will not routinely be involved in responding to emergencies or natural disasters, although they might be used to support the lead responders in particularly difficult circumstances. They would be provided with such training as was necessary prior to any such deployment. Defence also takes part in the national exercise programme in order to ensure that it can provide any support required by the lead responder. The Services chain of command in the regions of the UK is provided with regular training, education and exercising on the nature of military operations in the UK to ensure that they are prepared to command operations at short notice if required.

Armed Forces: Rescue Services

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the effect of UK's overseas military commitments on the ability of the armed forces to respond to a domestic emergency.

Bob Ainsworth: The Department's current overseas commitments have not at any time prevented the MOD from providing military assistance to the civilian authorities where it has been requested.

Armoured Fighting Vehicles

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many armoured and protected Land Rovers were deployed to Iraq prior to October 2003; what the vehicle classification was in each case; how many of each were deployed; and when each was deployed.

John Hutton: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 9 December 2008,  Official Report, column 52W, to the hon. Member for Newark (Patrick Mercer).

Armoured Fighting Vehicles: Procurement

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what the timetable is for delivery of the Future Rapid Effects System programme;
	(2)  what funding has been allocated for the Future Rapid Effects System programme;
	(3)  what his current estimate is for the in-service date of the Future Rapid Effects System;
	(4)  how many  (a) utility,  (b) reconnaissance,  (c) fires,  (d) manoeuvre support and  (e) basic capability vehicles will make up the Future Rapid Effects System.

Quentin Davies: The Future Rapid Effect System programme is in its assessment phase. The number of vehicles that will be needed to meet the requirement, the timetable for delivery, funding allocation and the in- service date will not be fixed until the main investment decision has been taken.

Biological Weapons

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what resources and procedures his Department has in place to respond to  (a) a biological terrorist attack,  (b) a chemical terrorist attack and  (c) a nuclear or radiological terrorist attack.

Bob Ainsworth: The MOD makes a number of specialist capabilities available to the civil authorities for dealing with CBRN terrorism. These include mitigation advice, specialist search, explosive ordinance disposal, detection, sampling and identification, and decontamination, as well as access to world leading research and development in this field through the Defence Science Technology Laboratory (Dstl) and the Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE). Some of these capabilities are held at high readiness and routinely exercise and operate with police forces.

Colombia: Armed Forces

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what expenditure his Department has incurred in providing training to members of the Colombian armed forces in each year since 2000.

Bob Ainsworth: In assisting the Colombian security forces in the areas of human rights and demining, the MOD spent the following approximate figures in each of the following financial years:
	
		
			   £ 
			 2000-01 (1)3,500 
			 2001-02 (1)49,000 
			 2002-03 (1)34,000 
			 2003-04 120,000 
			 2004-05 120,000 
			 2005-06 130,000 
			 2006-07 190,000 
			 2007-08 190,000 
			 2008-09 (2)190,000 
			 (1) Denotes information that is incomplete. (2) Denotes estimated spend.  Note: These figures do not include counter-narcotics assistance. 
		
	
	As well as these bilateral projects, the UK supports projects running through several UN agencies including the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, and the UN Office of Drugs and Crime, that provide training to more than two thousand serving men and women.

Defence Equipment: Expenditure

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of his Department's budget was spent on equipment in each year since 1997.

Quentin Davies: Since 2003 equipment expenditure data are published annually in Table 1.4 of the UK Defence Statistics by Defence Analytical Services and Advice (DAS A). Copies can be found in the National Statistics section of the DAS A website:
	http://www.dasa.mod.uk/applications/newWeb/www/index.php?page=66&pubType=1
	This shows that the proportion of the Ministry of Defence's budget spent on equipment over the past five financial years has been as follows:
	
		
			   Percentage 
			 2003-04 29.3 
			 2004-05 28.1 
			 2005-06 27.6 
			 2006-07 28.7 
			 2007-08 28.3 
		
	
	Earlier information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Defence Estates: Nature Conservation

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which wildlife conservation projects on Ministry of Defence sites in  (a) the UK,  (b) British territories overseas and  (c) other countries armed forces personnel have a role in maintaining.

Kevan Jones: Service personnel are engaged in numerous conservation projects in the UK and overseas. Full details of all these projects are not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	However, examples of projects can be found in Sanctuary Magazine, the Department's annual conservation journal. Copies of the latest edition of Sanctuary Magazine are available in the Library of the House.

Defence: Statistics

Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the likely reduction in his Department's expenditure as a result of discontinuing publication of defence export delivery statistics by UK Defence Statistics.

Quentin Davies: The direct saving to the Department by discontinuing the publication of defence export delivery statistics in "UK Defence Statistics" will be in the region of £30,000 per annum in staff costs. There are also additional, unquantified savings which have resulted from the avoidance of further work to implement alternative methods to produce these statistics for next year.

Departmental Data Protection

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many civil servants in his Department have been  (a) investigated,  (b) suspended and  (c) dismissed for (i) losing and (ii) deliberately disclosing (A) data stored on departmental equipment and (B) confidential information in each year since 1997.

Bob Ainsworth: The information is not held centrally in the form requested. However, records held centrally of civilian staff dismissed since April 2002 include no cases of dismissal specifically for losing or deliberately disclosing data or confidential information.

Departmental Higher Education

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many staff in his Department undertook courses funded by the Department for  (a) undergraduate degrees,  (b) postgraduate degrees or diplomas,  (c) Masters degrees,  (d) MBA degrees and  (e) PhD degrees in the last 12 months, broken down by pay band.

Kevan Jones: This information is not held centrally in the form provided and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, I can say that approximately 430 civilian staff have recorded on the Department's central system over the last year that they are undertaking training leading to a degree.

Departmental Internet

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence with reference to the answer of 4 November 2008,  Official Report, columns 336-7W, on Government departments: information and communications technology, which IP addresses are used by  (a) his Department and  (b) computers in the offices of its (i) Ministers, (ii) communications officials and (iii) special advisers.

Bob Ainsworth: To help defend against electronic attack, it is standard good information security practice for corporate IT systems not to publish internal IP addresses. When accessing internet websites, the IP addresses of all of the computers on the MOD's internal office IT system are hidden behind the following IP addresses which are publicly available—195.92.40.49 and 62.25.106.209. These IP addresses are shared with other Government Departments that use the Government Secure Intranet.

Departmental Offices

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what area in square metres is occupied by each Defence Minister's  (a) personnel and  (b) private office in (i) any building used by his Department and (ii) his Department's main building.

Kevan Jones: Within the Ministry of Defence Main Building in Whitehall, Defence Minister's, and their private offices, including special advisers, are allocated the following areas:
	
		
			  Square metres 
			  Minister  Private office  Outer office 
			 Secretary of State for Defence 59 111 
			 Minister of State for the Armed Forces 39 41 
			 Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence and Minister for Defence Equipment and Support 40 34 
			 Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence and Minister for Veterans 40 55 
			 Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence and Minister for International Defence and Security(1) 39 35 
			 (1) Minister for IDS is currently in temporary accommodation (25m(2) private office, 19m(2) outer office) and the above figures are the size of the permanent location, which will be available in the new year.   Note:  Approximate areas, based on examination of the electronic copy of the floor plans. 
		
	
	Defence Ministers' personnel and private offices do not occupy space in any other Ministry of Defence building, either in London or elsewhere.

Departmental Pay

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what bonus was awarded to the Permanent Under-Secretary of his Department during the financial year 2007-08.

Kevan Jones: Although the Government, with the agreement of those concerned, may in exceptional cases decide to publish personal information about individual public servants, the general policy is to treat such information, including about variable pay, as private.
	Pay and reward for Permanent Secretaries is considered annually by the Permanent Secretaries' Remuneration Committee and is subject to the rules and regulations governed by the Senior Salaries Review Body (SSRB) and the Cabinet Office. Permanent Secretaries, pay has been constrained by the same centrally imposed ceiling of the senior civil service (SCS) pay bill since the current pay and reward arrangements for the senior civil service changed on 1 April 2002.
	Non-consolidated bonus awards paid to the current and previous Permanent Under-Secretaries also fall within the SSRB recommended ceilings for the remainder of the SCS. These ceilings reflect the wider move to reward performance with non-consolidated, rather than consolidated, pay increases.
	Bonuses for performance in a particular financial year are paid in the following financial year.
	
		
			   Year/percentage 
			 Performance year 2007-08 
			 Paid in financial year 2008-09 
			 SSRB average SCS bonus ceiling 8.6 
			 Permanent Secretaries range 0-13.1

Departmental Rail Travel

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what date he last used a train in the course of his official duties.

Kevan Jones: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence last used a train in the course of his official duties on 28 November 2008 while travelling from London to Leeds to attend a Cabinet meeting. All ministerial travel is undertaken in accordance with the ministerial code.

Departmental Work Experience

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many individuals have worked in his Department on  (a) paid and  (b) unpaid work experience or internships in each of the past three years; on average how many hours a week were worked by such people in each year; what types of work each was involved in; what proportion were in full-time education; what proportion did not complete their set period of work experience; and how much those who received remuneration were paid on average per week in each year.

Kevan Jones: The data requested are not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

EC Defence Policy: Manpower

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the number of people who were working on EU military projects in each of the last five years; and how many such people were British.

Bob Ainsworth: We have made no estimate of the number of people who were working on EU military projects in each of the last five years.

EH101 Helicopters

Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many trained Merlin Mk 3 crews there are in the Royal Air Force.

Bob Ainsworth: There are 30 trained Merlin Mk 3 crew in the RAF. Each crew is made up of four personnel, consisting of a pilot, either a co-pilot or navigator and two crewmen.

Ex-servicemen: Radiation Exposure

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has received on commissioning research into the potential health effects on children and grandchildren of nuclear test veterans of their forebears' exposure to radiation during tests; and if he will make a statement.

Kevan Jones: Following an offer I made during the adjournment debate on 22 October 2008,  Official R eport, column 417, I met with the hon. Member for Billericay (Mr. Baron) and my hon. Friend the Member for Norwich, North (Dr. Gibson) and members of the British Nuclear Test Veterans Association on 29 October to discuss the possibility of a new MOD-funded study on health experiences particularly in relation to offspring. Officials have been discussing the scientific and ethical issues relevant to such a study with the BNTVA and scientific advisers and I hope to be able to make an announcement in the new year.

Falkland Islands: Land Mines

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent discussions he has had on de-mining operations in the Falkland Islands; when he expects the Falkland Islands to be cleared of mines; what the reasons are for the length of time taken to complete the de-mining operations; and how many people have been injured by landmines in the Falkland Islands in the last 10 years.

Shailesh Vara: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects the mine-clearing operation in the Falkland Islands to be completed.

Bob Ainsworth: Under the Ottawa convention, the UK is required to clear all anti-personnel mines from its territory by March 2019, having recently secured a 10 year extension to the original 2009 deadline. Our request for an extension was based on the Joint UK-Argentine Feasibility Study completed in October 2007 that concluded de-mining is technically feasible but presents significant challenges and would take at least 10 years to complete. Based on the findings of the feasibility study we have recently decided to proceed with the clearance of three mined areas in the Falkland Islands. The variety of terrain they cover will serve as a means of testing the environmental and ecological impact of de-mining, which are significant factors of concern. The results from these areas will be valuable in informing future work.
	In accordance with article 5 of the convention all mined areas have been perimeter marked, regularly monitored and protected by fencing to ensure the effective exclusion of civilians. I am pleased to say that there have been no mine casualties in the 25 years since the conflict.

Falkland Islands: Warships

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent discussions he has had with  (a) the government of the Falkland Islands and  (b) others on the withdrawal of HMS Northumberland from the Falkland Islands; what recent assessment he has made of the security situation in the Falkland Islands; how many troops are stationed in the Falkland Islands; and what plans he has for the redeployment of HMS Northumberland.

Bob Ainsworth: The Falkland Islands Government was briefed over the decision to deploy HMS Northumberland on an EU anti-piracy mission off the Horn of Africa and deploy RFA Largs Bay to the South Atlantic. Consultations also took place between my Department and the FCO.
	HMS Northumberland is one constituent part only of a comprehensive package of air, land and maritime assets that together maintain our deterrence posture on the Islands. This deterrence force is kept under regular review and can be reinforced quickly should the need arise. In November 2008, there were some 1,300 members of the armed forces based in the Falkland Islands. This figure varies during the year due to individual posting plots and unit moves.
	While it is UK Government policy not to comment in detail on the current threat to the Falkland Islands or the future disposition of UK forces, the UK Government remain fully committed to the defence of the South Atlantic Overseas Territories, including the Falkland Islands.

Iraq: Peacekeeping Operations

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made on negotiations with the Government of Iraq on the stationing of British forces in the country after 31 December 2008; and if he will make a statement.

John Hutton: The UK and the Government of Iraq are negotiating a legal framework to allow UK forces to continue to provide the assistance requested of us by Iraqi authorities, laying the foundations for a long-term normalised bilateral relationship. Negotiations are continuing and we are aiming to reach an agreement prior to the expiry of UN Security Council Resolution 1790 at the end of 2008. We continue to discuss our respective legal requirements with the US and other coalition partners.

Iraq: Politics and Government

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent assessment he made of the security situation in  (a) Iraq and  (b) Afghanistan.

John Hutton: In Iraq, the overall security situation continues to improve, with violence now down to levels last seen in 2003. In Basra, the Iraqi Security Forces are maintaining the significant security gains achieved over the course of 2008.
	In Afghanistan, considerable progress has been made but the insurgency remains resilient. The majority of people can go about their daily lives but in certain areas of the country, particularly in the south and east, significant security challenges remain. The Taliban have failed using conventional tactics and are turning to increasingly indiscriminate attacks, which show complete disregard for the safety of the local population.

Iraq: Visits Abroad

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on how many occasions in the last year he has visited  (a) Iraq and  (b) Afghanistan.

John Hutton: Since taking up post as Secretary of State for Defence on 3 October 2008, I have visited both Iraq and Afghanistan once, between 18 and 23 October. My predecessor made a number of visits to both countries as detailed in the table:
	
		
			  Operational visits to Iraq and Afghanistan  Date of visit 
			 Afghanistan 7 to 10 December 2007 
			 Iraq 10 to 14 March 2008 
			 Iraq 22 to 23 May 2008 
			 Afghanistan 24 to 25 May 2008 
			 Afghanistan 6 to 8 August 2008

Met Office

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the market value of the Met Office.

Kevan Jones: The Net Book Value of the Meteorological Office's assets as set out in its 2007-08 Annual Report and Accounts is approximately £206 million. I am withholding information on the estimates of the market value of Meteorological Office, as its disclosure would prejudice commercial interests.

Military Aircraft

Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what the status is of the Helix Programme to update the United Kingdom's large aircraft capability; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what factors underlay his Department's Project Helix decision to replace three Nimrod R1 aircraft with US RC-135 Rivet Joint Boeing jets instead of procuring the BAE Systems MRA4; what assessment he has made of the future of the BAE Systems Woodford production plant and aerodrome beyond 2012 as a result of his Department's decision; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  what estimate he has made of the cost of revamping the R1 fleet in comparison with using the BAE Systems MRA4 platform; and if he will make a statement;
	(4)  what assessment his Department has made of any operational benefits of the MRA4 replacement option for the Royal Air Force in terms of  (a) capability,  (b) in-service date and  (c) value for money; and if he will make a statement;
	(5)  what the total cost of the replacement of three 35-year-old Nimrod R1 aircraft based at RAF Waddington in Lincolnshire with 46-year old US RC-135 Boeings is expected to be; and if he will make a statement;
	(6)  what factors underlay his Department's decision to procure 46-year-old US RC-135 Boeings to replace three 35-year old Nimrod R1 aircraft based at RAF Waddington in Lincolnshire.

Quentin Davies: I refer the hon. Member to the answer my right hon. Friend the Minister for International Defence and Security gave on the HELIX programme in another place on 13 October 2008,  Official Report, column WA28, to the noble Lord, Lord Lee of Trafford.
	No decisions have been made on the HELIX programme. We are comparing the three options under consideration—Nimrod RI aircraft, tailored Nimrod MRA4 aircraft and the US Rivet Joint system. This work will inform the main investment decision point, expected to be in 2009. In reaching a conclusion we will take into account all relevant factors including costs, impact on the defence industrial base and operational benefits in terms of capability, in-service date and value for money, as well as other criteria.

Military Aircraft: Procurement

Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment his Department has made of the risks involved in stripping down military aircraft as part of his Department's procurement projects.

Quentin Davies: The assessment of project risk is an intrinsic part of the procurement process during the concept and assessment phases. Refurbished, as well as new aircraft are assessed against the same standards, rules and regulations.

Military Bases

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps his Department is taking to minimise the impact of military bases have on their surrounding environment, with particular reference to naval ports.

Bob Ainsworth: The MOD uses tools and policies such as sustainability and environmental appraisals and site based environmental management systems (EMS), to ensure that military bases (including naval bases) are managed to reduce their environmental impacts, and meet any legal and regulatory requirements. Full information and guidance on MOD environmental management tools and policies is contained within the MOD Sustainable Development and Environmental Manual JSP 418, which is available on the MOD website at:
	www.mod.uk.

Nuclear Weapons

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence with reference to the answer of 24 November 2008,  Official Report, column 904W, on nuclear weapons, whether beryllium was used in the nuclear trials codenamed  (a) Hurricane,  (b) Totem,  (c) Mosaic,  (d) Buffalo, (e) Grapple,  (f) Antler,  (g) Grapple X,  (h) Grapple Y and  (i) Grapple Z.

Kevan Jones: I can confirm that Beryllium was used in the nuclear trial series codenamed Hurricane, Totem, Mosaic, Buffalo, Grapple, Antler, Grapple X, Grapple Y, and Grapple Z.

Pakistan: al-Qaeda

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether his Department was informed by the Pakistani government of the possibility of a US air strike on the village of Ali Khel before 21 November 2008.

John Hutton: The Ministry of Defence was not informed by the Pakistani Government of the reported air strike on Ali Khel before 21 November 2008.

Princess Royal Barracks

Joan Humble: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much  (a) each board of inquiry and service inquiry into the deaths at Deepcut Barracks of (i) Private Sean Benton, (ii) Private Cheryl James, (iii) Private Geoff Gray and (iv) Private James Collinson and  (b) each recall service inquiry into the deaths of Private Gray and Private Collinson cost, broken down by each category of cost, including transport and expenses.

Bob Ainsworth: This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Princess Royal Barracks

Joan Humble: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the  (a) number of sitting hours and  (b) duration was of (i) each board of inquiry and service inquiry into the deaths at Deepcut Barracks of (A) Private Sean Benton, (B) Private Cheryl James, (C) Private Geoff Gray and (D) Private James Collinson and (ii) each recalled service inquiry into the deaths of Private Gray and Private Collinson.

Bob Ainsworth: In the case of the Private Gray Board of Inquiry (BOI), the board took evidence over 20 days; and the reconvened board took evidence over one day. In the case of the Private Collinson BOI, the board took evidence over six days; and the reconvened board took evidence over one day. In neither case were the number of sitting hours recorded.
	We do not hold information on the duration of the BOIs into the deaths of Privates Benton or James.

Princess Royal Barracks

Joan Humble: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many  (a) witnesses were called and  (b) statements were considered at (i) each board of inquiry and service inquiry into the deaths at Deepcut Barracks of (A) Private Sean Benton, (B) Private Cheryl James, (C) Private Geoff Gray and (D) Private James Collinson and (ii) each recalled service inquiry into the deaths of Private Gray and Private Collinson.

Bob Ainsworth: 10 witnesses gave oral evidence to the Private Benton Board of Inquiry (BOI) and three additional statements were considered by the board.
	11 witnesses gave oral evidence to the Private James BOI and nine additional statements were considered by the board.
	35 witnesses gave oral evidence to the Private Gray BOI and two additional statements were considered by the board. One witness was recalled by the reconvened board.
	14 witnesses gave oral evidence to the Private Collinson BOI and one additional statement was considered by the board. One witness was recalled by the reconvened board.

Supply Estimates

Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will break down his Department's Winter Supplementary Estimate 2008-09 on the same basis as in his answer of 14 July 2008,  Official Report, column 168W.

Bob Ainsworth: I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.

Tornado Aircraft: Manpower

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects the Tornado aircraft to be deployed in Operation Herrick to achieve that final operating capability.

Bob Ainsworth: holding answer 8 December 2008
	The Tornado GR4 aircraft will meet the middle east theatre entry standard on deployment to Op Herrick and is currently undergoing a programme of capability enhancement. As with the Harrier GR9 the Tornado GR4 capability will remain under constant review in theatre to ensure that it is optimised to meet the evolving operational requirement.

Trident

Ian Davidson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects a decision to be taken on the initial Gate Report on the Trident replacement programme; whether the House will make any such decision; and if he will make a statement.

John Hutton: holding answer 10 December 2008
	As we have said before, it is our expectation that decisions will be taken on the Initial Gate for the programme to develop a new class of submarine to replace the current Vanguard class in autumn 2009. It is not normal for Parliament to be involved in Initial Gate decisions for procurement projects. Main Gate for this programme is still several years away. As we have also said before, we propose to update Parliament on progress after Initial Gate.

OLYMPICS

Olympic Games 2012: Gun Sports

Humfrey Malins: To ask the Minister for the Olympics if she will place in the Library a copy of the brief provided by Major Peter Underhill to KPMG in relation to Olympic shooting venues.

Tessa Jowell: Major Peter Underhill is the London Organising Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Games' competition manager for shooting. KPMG was instructed by the Olympic Delivery Authority to assist in the evaluation of the options analysis for a number of temporary venues. As announced after the Olympic Board in November, the KPMG report will be published. However, we do not yet have a final copy of the report and there are no plans for specific discussions between KPMG and any other parties to be published.

Olympic Games 2012: Gun Sports

Humfrey Malins: To ask the Minister for the Olympics what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Defence on representations received on the venue for shooting sports at the London 2012 Olympics.

Tessa Jowell: I will discuss with the Secretary of State for Defence as soon as the conclusions of the KPMG review are finalised. Our officials meet regularly to discuss matters relating to Woolwich Royal Artillery Barracks.

Olympic Games 2012: Marketing

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Minister for the Olympics what her policy is on the authorisation and use of the community brand for the London 2012 Olympics; and if she will make a statement.

Tessa Jowell: The Inspire Mark is awarded by London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) and the IOC the first time a host city has been accorded this to high-quality fully funded non-commercial projects and programmes which have been clearly inspired by the London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games, and which achieve across sport, culture, education, the environment, volunteering or promoting business opportunities. Projects and programmes licensed to use the mark specify in the application process the manner in which they wish to use the mark on promotional material.

Olympic Games 2012: North East

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Minister for the Olympics what recent assessment has been made of the legacy of the forthcoming London Olympics for the North East.

Tessa Jowell: We are fully committed to ensuring that everyone in the UK can be part of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. We aim to do this through cultural events across the country, more opportunities to take part in sport and to be physically active, and a range of volunteering, jobs and skills initiatives as well as business opportunities. The Legacy Action Plan which I published in June sets out more details on how we propose to deliver this vision.
	I am also keen for regions to identify what is important to them. At a regional level this work is being taken forward by the Nations and Regions Group (NRG) who are working hard to optimise local benefits of the Games. The north-east representative is Peter Rowley, chair of the Regional Sports Board. The north-east launched its regional plan to maximise the benefits of the Games on 18 July 2007. This can be found on the North East Regional Development Agency website:
	http://www.onenortheast.co.uk/lib/liDownload/13895/Regiona_Plan_FINAL.lnk.pdf?CFID=2523889&CFTOKEN =11473987
	Progress on legacy in the north-east is already being made. Of the 23 eligible local authorities in the north-east, 16 have agreed to offer free swimming to those aged 16 or under and seven have agreed to offer free swimming to those aged 60 or over only. 19 Olympic and eight Paralympic facilities from the north-east are included in the official London 2012 Pre-Games Training Camp Guide; 40 events took place in the region during the Cultural Olympiad 'Open Weekend' and 22 special 'handover flags' were raised. Additionally, 97 schools and colleges in the north-east hosted Paralympic Games-focused activities for children and young people as part of Paralympic handover celebrations.
	Furthermore, St. James' Park, Newcastle (home of Newcastle United) will experience first hand the excitement of Games activity by hosting rounds of the football competition during 2012.

Olympic Games 2012: VAT

Don Foster: To ask the Minister for the Olympics what assessment she has made of the impact of introducing a lower rate of value added tax on the overall costs of the London 2012 Olympic Games.

Tessa Jowell: The Olympic Delivery Authority expects to save £25 million as a result of the temporary reduction of the standard rate of VAT to 15 per cent.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Afghanistan: Asylum

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the availability of housing and housing materials for refugees in Afghanistan who have been repatriated from Iran and Pakistan; and if he will make a statement.

Douglas Alexander: Reliable nationwide data on housing for refugees are not available. However, in the eastern region more than 10,730 returning families (over 59,800 people) required shelter support from UNHCR in 2008. This amounts to approximately 35 per cent. of the total returning to the region. Eastern Afghanistan received 63 per cent. of all refugee returnees in 2008.
	There is no shortage of building material for Afghan housing, usually constructed of mud and bricks. However, there is a shortage of skilled labour and this, coupled with rising material costs and the high number of refugees returning (over 275,000 in 2008), is slowing the rebuilding process.

Commonwealth Scholarships

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development with reference to the Answer of 15 September 2008,  Official Report, column 2177W, on Commonwealth scholarships, if he will list the contribution his Department  (a) made in each of the last five financial years and  (b) plans to make in financial years (i) 2008-09, (ii) 2009-10 and (iii) 2010-11 to UK programmes for overseas scholars.

Douglas Alexander: Contributions to the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission from the Department for International Development (DFID) for the past five financial years are as follows:
	
		
			   £ 
			 2003-04 10,855,042 
			 2004-05 16,552,820 
			 2005-06 12,426,319 
			 2006-07 14,427,032 
			 2007-08 14,397,405 
		
	
	DFID plans to provide the following funding over the next three financial years to Commonwealth Scholarships:
	
		
			   £ 
			 2008-09 15,930,000 
			 2009-10 17,430,000 
			 2010-11 17,500,000

Departmental Accountancy

Andrew Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will place in the Library a copy of his Department's  (a) chart of accounts and  (b) resource accounts codes and usage descriptions together with the amount of expenditure for each account code for (i) 2006-07 and (ii) 2007-08.

Douglas Alexander: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 20 November 2008,  Official Report, column 755-6W to the hon. Member for Ilford, North (Mr. Scott).

Departmental Air Travel

Andrew Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many business class, work-related flights taken by members of his Department's staff through the flexible travel scheme were  (a) eligible for downgrade to economy class and  (b) downgraded to economy class in (i) 2006-07 and (ii) 2007-08.

Douglas Alexander: This information can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Catering

Lee Scott: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much was spent on the staff restaurant subsidy at his Department in each of the last three years.

Douglas Alexander: The subsidy for the last three years is as follows:
	
		
			   £ 
			 2005-06 194,393 
			 2006-07 215,978 
			 2007-08 146,026

Departmental Databases

Andrew Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will place in the Library an electronic copy of his Department's Performance Reporting Information System for management databases.

Douglas Alexander: The Department for International Development's (DFID) Performance Reporting Information System for Management is a multi-tiered database system with interdependencies on other internal DFID systems. It is therefore too complex to be made available as an electronic copy in the Library.

Departmental Disabled Staff

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what conclusions his Department has reached in fulfilment of its duty under section 3.111 of the statutory code of practice of the disability equality duty.

Michael Foster: The Department for International Development (DFID) published its Disability Equality Scheme on 4 December 2006. The scheme includes an action plan to turn commitments into practice. The scheme and action plan is helping DFID promote equality for disabled people as an employer, a service provider and an organisation that can use its influence within the wider field of international development.
	DFID holds the Jobcentre Plus 'Two Ticks' disability symbol which promotes the recruitment and retention of people with disabilities. We also have in place a Disability Champion and a strengthened Disability Forum Network. Priority has been given to delivering consistent messages across DFID to raise greater awareness among managers and staff of disability issues. As a result staff are beginning to feel comfortable about declaring their disability, with a 10 per cent. rise in self-declaration over the last 18 months.
	Overall DFID has made significant progress in promoting disability equality in the past year. DFID recognises a need to do more. A central diversity team will continue to monitor progress against the action plan and report on progress in DFID's 2008-09 Annual Diversity Report, to be published in March 2009. DFID will review its Disability Equality Scheme once the Single Equality Bill becomes an Act.
	DFID's Disability Equality Scheme can be found at
	www.dfid.gov.uk.

Departmental Higher Education

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many staff in his Department undertook courses funded by the Department for  (a) undergraduate degrees,  (b) postgraduate degrees or diplomas,  (c) Masters degrees,  (d) MBA degrees and  (e) PhD degrees in the last 12 months, broken down by pay band.

Michael Foster: Reporting the number staff in the Department for International Development (DFID) who undertook the funded courses  (a) undergraduate degrees,  (b) postgraduate degrees or diplomas,  (c) masters degrees,  (d) MBA degrees and  (e) PhD degrees in the last 12 months, broken down by pay band, could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	Approximately 100 sub-departments and overseas offices within DFID are responsible for arranging and financing further and higher education. Information on the number and grades of staff undertaking such courses is not held centrally.

Departmental Internet

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development with reference to the Answer of 4 November 2008,  Official Report, columns 336-37W, on Government departments: information and communications technology, which IP addresses are used by  (a) his Department and  (b) computers in the offices of its (i) Ministers, (ii) communications officials and (iii) special advisers.

Michael Foster: To help defend against electronic attack, it is standard good information security practice for corporate IT systems not to publish internal IP addresses. When accessing internet websites, the IP addresses of all of the computers on the Department for International Development's (DFID) internal office IT system are hidden behind the following IP addresses which are publicly available—195.92.40.49 and 62.25.106.209. These IP addresses are shared with other Government Departments that use the Government secure intranet.

Departmental Marketing

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many staff in his Department are responsible for brand management and marketing; and what the cost of employing such staff was in 2007-08.

Michael Foster: The Department for International Development (DFID) employs eight full-time equivalent staff who are responsible for a wide range of marketing and communication activities. The cost of employing these staff in financial year 2007-08 was £378,645.

Departmental Procurement

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what proportion of his Department's contracts went to UK companies in the latest period for which figures are available.

Douglas Alexander: The information requested could not be provided without incurring disproportionate cost.

Departmental Public Expenditure

Andrew Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what projects his Department has funded at or above the value of £100,000 for each of the last three years.

Douglas Alexander: Data on Department for International Development (DFID) projects are available through two international portals: the AiDA Development Gateway and the OECD Development Assistance Committee's Creditor Reporting System (CRS). Each portal can be assessed through the following links:
	AiDA—http://aida.developmentgateway.org/index.do
	CRS—http://stats.oecd.org/WBOS/lndex.aspx?DatasetCode=CRSNEW
	There are plans to publish more detailed information about individual DFID projects in a database on the DFID website during 2009.

Departmental Training

Andrew Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the  (a) cost,  (b) location,  (c) duration,  (d) purpose,  (e) number of attendees and  (f) date was of each of his Department's staff retreats in each of the last three years.

Douglas Alexander: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Ilford, North (Mr. Scott) on 21 October 2008,  Official Report, column 199W.

Kashmir: Overseas Aid

David Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent discussions he has had with the British Red Cross on the provision of humanitarian aid to Indian-administered Kashmir.

Michael Foster: The Department for International Development has regular dialogue with the British Red Cross and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) on key humanitarian emergencies around the World.
	During Gareth Thomas's meeting with Jakob Kellenberger, President of the ICRC, on 7 September 2008 there was no reference to the access of humanitarian aid to Indian-administered Kashmir. Official dialogue with the British Red Cross have focused on their programmes with partner national societies and have not involved discussion on Kashmir.

Overseas Aid

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what safeguards his Department has put in place to make sure that where direct budgetary aid is given  (a) the money is correctly spent and  (b) it does not lead to the substitution of other Government expenditure which has not been approved.

Michael Foster: Budget support is only used where the recipient government is committed to reducing poverty, upholding human rights and other international obligations and strengthening public financial management, promoting good governance and transparency, fighting corruption.
	We protect our funds in three ways:
	We assess the risks carefully and have our assessment checked by external experts.
	We ensure that governments have a credible reform programme to improve their systems; and provide technical support to help them.
	We use safeguards to prevent misuse of funds; e.g. procurement approval by someone outside of the national systems, additional audits of particular sectors or tracking money from the Ministry of Finance to make sure it gets to the right places.
	We monitor government budgets and expenditure carefully every year to make sure that money is spent according to their plans and priorities. We look at the whole budget and all areas of expenditure. We look not just at the amounts governments spend but also the proportion of their budgets—for example we look at whether health and education is going up, not just in absolute terms but as a percentage of total government expenditure. If governments go off-track with their spending plans we raise these issues at the highest levels. If necessary we reduce or suspend support or deliver it in a different way.

Overseas Aid

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what percentage of his Department's projects are re-visited after completion but during the expected life of the project to ensure they are still functioning and maintained properly.

Douglas Alexander: All of the Department for International Development's (DFID) projects over £1 million are required to have a logical framework, detailing objectives and expected outcomes. A formal assessment of progress against the logical framework is carried out annually. At the close of a project, a project completion report assesses achievement against this framework and identifies lessons learned to improve future effectiveness and value for money.
	DFID does not set a specific percentage for coverage of post-completion assessments, but post-completion impact and sustainability of major individual projects is assessed when undertaking country programme evaluations (CPE), thematic and policy evaluations, with up to 25 reports produced annually. CPEs are timed to influence future country/regional plans and approaches to results management; they are carried out by independent consultants who have a final say on content. Follow up to evaluation recommendations are tracked and reported on annually to the Independent Advisory Committee on Development Impact (IACDI), who regulates DFID's evaluation work programme to assure quality and independence.

Somalia: Overseas Aid

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development with reference to the Answer of 19 November 2008,  Official Report, column 655W, on Gulf of Aden: piracy, if he will provide a breakdown of the £25 million allocated by his Department to support efforts to tackle the instability in Somalia which creates the conditions allowing piratical activity to flourish.

Douglas Alexander: The Department for International Development (DFID) has allocated £30 million to Somalia this financial year to address poverty and humanitarian needs which underlie the instability in Somalia. The £25 million referred to by the Foreign Secretary has since been supplemented.
	So far this financial year DFID Somalia has disbursed its allocation as follows:
	£2,792,000 on governance, including support for the successful completion of voter registration in three districts to date in preparation for the 2009 Somaliland presidential elections;
	£1,568,000 on education, including helping to increase enrolment in Somaliland from 40,000 to 70,000 through the distribution of school textbooks and the provision of alternative education programmes;
	£1,235,000 on health, including combating malaria in Somaliland through the distribution of 120,000 bed nets, and improving health care in Gedo region of South Central Somalia through the rehabilitation of three district hospitals;
	£1,021,000 on livelihoods, including training of 180 female entrepreneurs;
	£10,098,000 on humanitarian assistance, including food support to the equivalent of 83,000 individuals over the last four years.
	A further £500,000 from the Africa Conflict Prevention Pool has been spent in helping the parties implementing the Djibouti Peace Agreement.

Southern Africa: Cholera

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent assessment he has made of the extent of the spread to  (a) Botswana and  (b) South Africa of the cholera outbreak in Zimbabwe; and how many people are estimated to be affected by the disease in each of these countries.

Douglas Alexander: According to the World Health Organisation figures, as of 8 December only two cholera cases have so far been reported in Botswana. In South Africa, more than 500 Zimbabweans with cholera have been treated, with 10 deaths reported.

St Helena

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps his Department is taking to attract investment to St Helena.

Michael Foster: I refer the hon. Member to the written statement made on 8 December 2008,  Official Report, column 40WS.

St Helena: Airports

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development 
	(1)  what provisions his Department has made for funding the construction of an airport on the island of Saint Helena; and if he will make a statement.
	(2)  what estimate his Department has made of the financial cost of constructing an airport on St Helena.
	(3)  what recent discussions his Department has had with officials from St Helena on the construction of an airport on the island.

Michael Foster: I refer the hon. Member to the written statement made on 8 December 2008,  Official Report, column 40WS.

Zimbabwe: Cholera

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent discussions he has had with representatives of humanitarian organisations operating in Zimbabwe on the cholera outbreak in that country; and if he will make a statement.

Douglas Alexander: The Department for International Development's (DFID) officials in Harare are in daily contact with organisations responding to the current humanitarian crisis in Zimbabwe. We are pressing hard for a well coordinated and effective response. The cholera outbreak has come on top of a protracted food crisis and has revealed the full extent to which basic services in Zimbabwe have now collapsed.

Zimbabwe: Cholera

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent estimate he has made of the number of people who have died in Zimbabwe as a result of the cholera outbreak; and if he will make a statement.

Douglas Alexander: According to the United Nations (UN), by 8 December there had been 13,960 cases of cholera with 589 deaths reported in Zimbabwe. These figures account for those who report at treatment centres or whose deaths are reported to the authorities, and can be assumed to be an underestimate of the real number of people affected.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Amusement Arcades: Coastal Areas

John Penrose: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 
	(1)  what steps he is taking in response to recent job losses within the seaside arcade sector; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  how many seaside arcades have closed since September 2007;
	(3)  what steps he is planning to take in response to the downturn in seaside arcades since the introduction of the Gambling Act on 1 September 2007;
	(4)  what recent assessment his Department has made of the impact of regulatory costs of the Gambling Act 2005 on seaside arcades.

Gerry Sutcliffe: We recognise that for a variety of reasons, seaside arcades are facing a challenging operating environment. The Gambling Commission has advised that whilst up to date figures on the number of arcade closures in seaside resorts are not available, it estimates that around 170 arcade premises in seaside or other locations have stopped trading since September 2007.
	The Department has also received representations from the British Amusement and Catering Trade Association (BACTA) which suggest that an estimated 853 jobs in the wider arcade sector have been lost since July 2007.
	That is why we brought forward the stakes and prize review for category C and D gaming machines—to assist family entertainment centres, pubs and machine manufacturers. We have taken account of the industry's responses to our recent consultation which proposed increases in stakes and prize limits for certain categories of C and D machines and will shortly announce how we intend to proceed.
	Increasing stakes and prizes is not the sole answer to the problems seaside attractions are currently facing—seaside resorts need to develop their own imaginative ideas to attract visitors. The Government can also play their part and are helping our seaside resorts, as we have shown through our £45 million Sea: Change regeneration programme.
	We have made no assessment of the regulatory costs of the Gambling Act 2005 specifically in relation to seaside arcades. However, we estimate that, overall, the new regime has reduced total administrative burdens by around £57 million annually.

Amusement Arcades: Coastal Areas

John Penrose: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 
	(1)  what factors underlay the decisions on the treatment of  (a) bingo halls and  (b) seaside arcades in respect of entitlement to Category B3 machines;
	(2)  what the evidential basis was for the decisions regarding the gaming relief provided for  (a) the bingo sector and  (b) seaside arcades; and if he will make a statement.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The Department received representations from a number of trade bodies, including the Bingo Association and the British Amusement and Catering Trade Association (BACTA), seeking changes to the regulatory regime for gaming machines established by the Gambling Act 2005 and implemented by secondary legislation from 1 September 2007.
	I concluded that there was strong evidence that the economic situation facing the bingo industry is particularly acute with a significant number of club closures in recent months and years. I was also persuaded that a number of special circumstances apply to bingo, including the fact that there is often a high demand for machines during short periods of the day. That is why my Department consulted on a proposal to increase to eight the number of Category B3 gaming machines in bingo halls. The order to implement is subject to affirmative approval in both Houses.
	The Government also received strong representations in respect of the challenging economic environment faced by seaside arcades. That is why we brought forward on an exceptional basis the stakes and prize review for Category C and D gaming machines—to assist family entertainment centres, pubs and machine manufacturers. We have taken account of the industry's responses to our recent consultation which proposed increases in stakes and prize limits for certain categories of C and D machines and will shortly announce how we intend to proceed.

Arts Council of England: Finance

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much grant in aid was allocated for Arts Council England in 2007-08; and how much has been allocated in each year for which projections have been made, broken down by budget subheading.

Barbara Follett: The grant in aid allocated to Arts Council England (ACE) from DCMS in the period in question is set out in the table, together with allocations by ACE budget subheads. ACE decides its own budget subhead allocations, not DCMS.
	
		
			  Grant in aid funding  2007-08  2008-09  2009-10  2010-11 
			  Original DCMS funding (£000)  £411,455 (Actual)  £430,905  £445,005  £468,505 
			  
			  ACE budget subheads 
			 RFOs 325,725 335,878 346,911 357,114 
			 Creative Partnerships 31,098 35,739 38,704 39,695 
			 Administration 25,525 24,300 25,000 22,600 
			 CLP 5,635 3,000 3,500 3,500 
			 Free Theatre 0 100 2,400 0 
			 Research 500 500 500 500 
			 Managed funds 29,795 27,538 23,840 37,546 
			 Contingency 720 5,000 4,000 5,000 
			 Capital 0 1,350 1,650 1,550 
			 Find your Talent 0 4,750 9,750 9,800 
			 Grants to individuals 890 — — — 
			 Current funding plans 419,888 438,155 456,255 477,305 
		
	
	Additional funding has also been allocated to ACE from other funding sources, which accounts for the difference between DCMS allocation and planned expenditure in each of the financial years set out in the table.

Arts Council of England: Grants

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what percentage of the Arts Council's funding for regularly funded organisations was provided in grants of more than  (a) £10 million,  (b) £15 million and  (c) £20 million in each year since 1997.

Barbara Follett: The information requested has been provided by Arts Council England and is set out in the table. All Arts Council England funding to regularly funded organisations is grant in aid. The information is only available for the years since Arts Council England's merger in 2002-03; before that year, the Regional Arts Boards were independent bodies and maintained records according to their own systems and requirements.
	
		
			  Proportion of funding to regularly funded organisations in grants of:  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08  2008-09  2009-10 
			 More than £10,000,000 34.3 31.9 30.9 30.2 29.6 29.3 29.1 29.0 
			 More than £15,000,000 16.3 15.0 26.0 25.5 25.0 24.8 29.1 29.0 
			 More than £20,000,000 9.3 8.5 8.3 8.3 8.1 8.0 8.0 8.0

Betting Shops

Hugo Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimate he has made of the percentage of visitors to betting shops who visited for the purpose of playing on fixed odds betting terminals in the latest period for which figures are available.

Gerry Sutcliffe: There are no such figures available.

Big Lottery Fund: Public Relations

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much the Big Lottery Fund has paid to Cake for public relations services in 2008-09; and how much has been paid for services relating to the Big Thinking consultation.

Barbara Follett: The Big Lottery Fund has advised that £45,760.38 has been spent on public relations services provided by Cake in the current financial year (up until 9 December 2008). This includes £19,211.25 for services related to the Big Think consultation.

Charities

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport to which charities his Department has provided funding of more than £100,000 in each of the last three years; and how much was provided to each.

Andy Burnham: holding answer 11 December 2008
	The Department provides funding to charities through grant in aid, specific grants, strategic commissioning and procurement of services. Payments to charities in the last three years, where the charity received more than £100,000 in any one year, are set out in the following table.
	
		
			  £000 
			  Charity n ame  2008-09( 1)  2007-08  2006-07 
			  NDPBs with exempt charity status
			 British Library 69,809 106,608 114,281 
			 British Museum 40,742 45,055 46,605 
			 Imperial War Museum 19,041 22,304 21,034 
			 Museum of London 3 8,826 8,593 
			 National Gallery 17,905 25,798 26,336 
			 National Maritime Museum 16,011 18,636 18,354 
			 National Museum of Science and Industry 31,634 41,484 42,417 
			 National Museums Liverpool 17,766 22,508 23,172 
			 National Portrait Gallery 6,098 7,193 6,771 
			 Natural History Museum 40,318 45,425 47,785 
			 Tate Gallery 50,949 46,097 35,661 
			 The Royal Armouries 6,437 8,917 8,273 
			 Victoria and Albert Museum 33,844 45,954 43,637 
			 Wallace Collection 3,295 4,384 3,324 
			 
			  Registered charities
			 Arts Council of England 314,803 425,992 476,552 
			 Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music 0 0 254 
			 British Red Cross Society 0 0 1,158 
			 Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust 225 455 450 
			 Churches Conservation Trust 2,250 3,062 2,462 
			 Design Museum 414 503 530 
			 Geffrye Museum 1,610 2,215 1,571 
			 Greenwich Foundation for the Old Royal Naval College 1,500 1,500 1,500 
			 Horniman Museum 3,134 4,358 4,467 
			 Legacy Trust UK 0 6,000 0 
			 Media Trust 245 333 338 
			 Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester 3,566 4,451 4,886 
			 Museums, Libraries and Archives Council 46,489 64,271 52,318 
			 National Children's Bureau 101 152 184 
			 National Film and Television School 2,013 3,013 3,415 
			 National Football Museum 112 144 104 
			 National Foundation for Youth Music 1,133 304 376 
			 Norwich Heritage and Regeneration Trust 312 123 45 
			 Royal National Theatre 0 1 315 
			 Sir John Soane's Museum 1,048 1,389 1,264 
			 Sound Sense 0 218 107 
			 South Bank Centre 661 611 55 
			 The Jerwood Charity 0 30 220 
			 The Work Foundation 0 70 165 
			 UK Antarctic Heritage Trust 0 150 0 
			 Wedgewood Museum 103 142 0 
			 York Museums and Galleries Trust 133 3 0 
			 (1) To 30 November 2008.  Notes: 1. The Department changed its accounting system at the end of 2005-06. Comparative information for 2005-06 could be provided only at disproportionate cost. We have provided year to date figures for 2008-09. 2. For grant programmes that are jointly funded by DCMS and other organisations, only DCMS's share of the funding to the charity is included.

Climate Change

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment his Department has made of its capacity to adapt to climate change; and what plans he has to publish a climate change adaption strategy.

Barbara Follett: Following a literature review on the effect of climate change on cultural and sporting assets, the Department is commissioning research to investigate the effects of climate change on the culture and leisure industries. We will consider what adaptation and mitigation strategies might be needed in light of the findings.

Departmental Data Protection

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many civil servants in his Department have been  (a) investigated,  (b) suspended and  (c) dismissed for (i) losing and (ii) deliberately disclosing (A) data stored on departmental equipment and (B) confidential information in each year since 1997.

Gerry Sutcliffe: In the Department for Culture, Media and Sport no civil servants have been investigated, suspended or dismissed for losing or deliberately disclosing data stored on departmental equipment or confidential information since 1997.

Departmental Higher Education

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many staff in his Department undertook courses funded by the Department for  (a) undergraduate degrees,  (b) postgraduate degrees or diplomas,  (c) Masters degrees,  (d) MBA degrees and  (e) PhD degrees in the last 12 months, broken down by pay band.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) funded the following numbers of staff to undertake courses in the last 12 months:
	 (a) Undergraduate degrees
	A total of 2 staff at Grade B—civil service equivalent SEO/HEO pay band.
	 (b) Postgraduate degrees or diplomas
	A total of three staff (excluding Masters degrees):
	one staff at Grade A—Grade 6/7 equivalent pay band;
	one staff at Grade B—SEO/HEO equivalent pay band;
	one staff at Grade C—EO equivalent pay band.
	 (c) Masters degrees
	A total of 11 staff undertaking MSc or MA degrees:
	four staff at Grade A/A(U)—Grade 6/7 equivalent pay band;
	five staff at Grade B—SEO/HEO equivalent pay band;
	one staff at Grade C—EO equivalent pay band;
	one staff at Grade D—AO/AA equivalent pay band.
	 (d) MBA degrees
	A total of one staff at Grade A/A(U)—Grade 6/7 equivalent pay band.
	 (e) PhD degrees
	None undertaken in the last 12 months.

Departmental Rail Travel

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport on what date he last used a train in the course of his official duties.

Andy Burnham: On 4 December 2008. All ministerial travel is undertaken in accordance with the Ministerial Code.

Gambling

Hugo Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what definition of  (a) sports betting and  (b) gaming his Department uses; and if he will make a statement.

Gerry Sutcliffe: There is no specific statutory definition of sports betting, but the definition of betting in section 9 of the Gambling Act 2005 would normally apply. Sports betting is simply betting as defined in s9 where the event or process concerned is a sporting event of some kind.
	For "gaming", the relevant definition is in section 6—gaming means playing a game of chance for a prize. The terms "game of chance" and "prize" are further defined in s6(1), which also contains other interpretation provisions.

Gambling Commission: Standards

John Penrose: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will ask the National Audit Office to undertake a study into the economy, efficiency and effectiveness of the Gambling Commission.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The Gambling Commission's accounts are audited and approved each year by the National Audit Office. The Commission's set-up project and initial operating period has also been subject to an ongoing Office of Government Commerce Gateway review.
	The Gambling Commission was in the first phase of public bodies to undergo a Hampton Implementation Review by the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR). The purpose of such independent reviews is to promote more effective and efficient regulatory activity. Details of the review will be published by BERR in due course.

Museums and Galleries: Information Officers

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much  (a) the Royal Armouries,  (b) Sir John Soane's Museum,  (c) Chatham Historic Dockyard and  (d) the Wallace Collection spent on employing press and communications officers in each of the last five years.

Barbara Follett: The following information has been provided by the requested organisations and is inclusive of NIC and pensions:
	 The Royal Armouries
	The Royal Armouries inform us that they have spent:
	
		
			   £ 
			 2003-04 66,000 
			 2004-05 92,000 
			 2005-06 0 
			 2006-07 9,000 
			 2007-08 54,000 
		
	
	 The Sir John Soane' s Museum
	The Sir John Soane's Museum inform us that they do not employ any press or communications officers.
	 Chatham Historic Dockyard
	Chatham Historic Dockyard is not an NDPB sponsored by DCMS. However, they have provided the information requested:
	
		
			   £ 
			 2003-04 25,600 
			 2004-05 27,100 
			 2005-06 31,200 
			 2006-07 29,900 
			 2007-08 18,500 
		
	
	 The Wallace Collection
	The Wallace Collection inform us that they have spent:
	
		
			   £ 
			 2003-04 23,400 
			 2004-05 0 
			 2005-06 26,300 
			 2006-07 37,000 
			 2007-08 46,600 
		
	
	 Note:
	For consistency, figures are rounded up to the nearest £100.

National Lottery: Play

Mike Gapes: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will extend the deadline for applications for Big Lottery play strategy projects beyond March 2009.

Barbara Follett: As a lottery distributor, The Big Lottery Fund (BIG) operates independently from DCMS and as such it would be inappropriate for the Department to intervene with the day to day running of BIG.
	For Children's Play BIG had four application windows—July 2006, November 2006, March 2007, September 2007. The majority of the applications were received for the final window, i.e. in September 2007. For Playful Ideas the application deadline was December 2007. Therefore all the funding was committed under both these programmes by this year (i.e. funding has been committed over a two year period based on the applications received). Funding for Play Infrastructure was committed in March 2006 when the programme launched.

Sports: Finance

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much per capita was spent from the public purse on sporting infrastructure in each of the last five years.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Sport England have advised that they have spent the following amounts on capital projects in each of the last five years:
	
		
			  Financial year total  Per capita spend  (£) 
			 2003-04 0.01 
			 2004-05 0.33 
			 2005-06 0.28 
			 2006-07 0.53 
			 2007-08 0.76 
		
	
	Population figures source: Office for National Statistics Website, figures as follows:
	
		
			   Population England (Million) 
			 Mid 2003 49.866 
			 Mid 2004 50.111 
			 Mid 2005 50.465 
			 Mid 2006 50.763 
			 Mid 2007 51.092 
		
	
	This does not include other sources of capital spend on sport, such as local authority spend.

WALES

Climate Change

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment his Department has made of its capacity to adapt to climate change; and what plans he has to publish a climate change adaptation strategy.

Paul Murphy: The cross-Government Adapting to Climate Change Programme increases Government's capacity to adapt by ensuring a co-ordinated approach across all Departments and the public sector. This includes implementation of the adaptation aspects of the Climate Change Act, such as development of the national climate risk assessment. Information about the Programme can be found at:
	www.defra.gov/adaptation.
	The Wales Office is covered under the Ministry of Justice climate change strategy.

Departmental Data Protection

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many civil servants in his Department have been  (a) investigated,  (b) suspended and  (c) dismissed for (i) losing and (ii) deliberately disclosing (A) data stored on departmental equipment and (B) confidential information in each year since 1997.

Paul Murphy: Since its inception in 1999, the Wales Office have not conducted any investigations on Civil Servants.

Departmental Internet

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales with reference to the answer of 4 November 2008,  Official Report, columns 336-7W, on Government departments: information and communications technology, which IP addresses are used by  (a) his Department and  (b) computers in the offices of its (i) Ministers, (ii) communications officials and (iii) special advisers.

Paul Murphy: To help defend against electronic attack, it is standard good information security practice for corporate IT systems not to publish internal IP addresses. When accessing internet websites, the IP addresses of all of the computers on the Wales Office's internal office IT system are hidden behind the following IP addresses which are publicly available—195.92.40.49 and 62.25.106.209. These IP addresses are shared with other Government Departments that use the Government Secure Intranet.

Gifts

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many members of staff in his Department have received gifts valued at £100 or higher in the course of their duties in each of the last three years; what these gifts were; and from whom they were received.

Paul Murphy: None.

PRIME MINISTER

Finsbury Ltd.

Norman Baker: To ask the Prime Minister on what date he last met Roland Rudd in his capacity as a representative of Finsbury Ltd.

Gordon Brown: My officials and I have meetings with a wide range of organisations and individuals on a range of subjects.

SCOTLAND

Revenue and Customs: Closures

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions he has had with  (a) HM Revenue and Customs and  (b) Treasury officials on the announced closure of tax offices in Scotland.

Ann McKechin: My right hon. Friend has regular discussions with the Treasury on a range of issues.

COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Climate Change

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment her Department has made of its capacity to adapt to climate change; and what plans she has to publish a climate change adaptation strategy.

Iain Wright: The cross-Government Adapting to Climate Change Programme increases Government's capacity to adapt by ensuring a coordinated approach across all Departments and the public sector. This includes implementation of the adaptation aspects of the Climate Change Act, such as development of the national climate risk assessment.
	Information about the programme, and about my Department's current work to promote adaptation to climate change, is set out at:
	http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/climatechange/adapt/programme/across-government.htm
	This includes work on planning, new development, housing and resilience and our priorities for future adaptation action. We are also taking part in cross-government work to support local authorities as they mainstream climate risk into their strategies and services and help their communities adapt to climate change.

Community Development: Disabled

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps her Department is taking to ensure that disabled people are given support to help them integrate into the communities in which they live, with particular reference to those who live  (a) in a residential home and  (b) with their families.

Sadiq Khan: Our White Paper "Communities in Control: real people real power", published in July 2008, describes a variety of ways in which we will be seeking to empower local communities and citizens—including disabled people and other disadvantaged groups, whether living in residential homes or with families—thus enabling them to participate more actively in their communities. These include: a new duty on local authorities to promote democracy, another duty requiring best value authorities to involve people in local decision making, and a local Take Part programme to encourage more people from different backgrounds to engage in civic activities. This document can be found at:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/communities/communitiesincontrol
	We also recently published our Secretary of State's report on Disability Equality which highlighted focused action for disabled people and included commitments for further improvements. This can be found at:
	www.communities.gov.uk/publications/communities/disabilityequality2008

Compulsory Purchase

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will make it her policy to keep centrally held records on the number of compulsory purchase orders that have been issued by local authorities.

Iain Wright: No. I do not think that the expense would be justified. The Government office for London now has responsibility for considering applications for the confirmation of compulsory purchase orders submitted by English local authorities to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government. The casework management database includes some basic statistical information such as the number of CPO cases dealt with, the number opposed or unopposed, the number confirmed or refused and the CPO power used. Other types of local authority CPOs are dealt with by the Secretary of State within whose policy responsibility they fall.

Council Housing: Repairs and Maintenance

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many housing repairs were undertaken by each local authority in each of the last five years; and how much each authority spent on such repairs.

Iain Wright: The Department has collected data on local authority programmes of work through the Business Plan Statistical Appendix (BPSA) since 2001-02. The information held includes the following two categories covering a broad range of activity:
	renovation work of a capital nature (installation, replacement and major repair)—we are unable to provide figures for major repairs separately;
	renovation work of a non-capital nature (minor repairs/routine maintenance).
	Two tables with information for the last five years (2002-03 to 2006-07) have been deposited in the Library.

Departmental Higher Education

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many staff in her Department undertook courses funded by the Department for  (a) undergraduate degrees,  (b) postgraduate degrees or diplomas,  (c) Masters degrees,  (d) MBA degrees and  (e) PhD degrees in the last 12 months, broken down by pay band.

Sadiq Khan: The following table shows the number of staff who were sponsored by the Department in the last 12 months to undertake degree courses up to PhD level. These figures do not include those who were sponsored to undertake professional courses which are equivalent to degree level and above.
	
		
			  Pay band  Number of staff 
			 3 2 
			 4 7 
			 5 2 
			 6 2 
			 7 2

Departmental Marketing

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much has been spent by her Department on advertising in the last 12 months.

Sadiq Khan: Figures for public information campaigns in the financial year 2007-08 were published in the Department's Annual Report, which is available in the Library of the House and from the Department's website.

Departmental Temporary Employment

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to the answer of 28 October 2008,  Official Report, column 947W, on departmental recruitment agencies, how many staff were recruited through each company in each year; and for how long on average staff recruited through these companies worked for the Department in each year.

Sadiq Khan: Since 1 January 2008 the Department for Communities and Local Government has recruited 169 temporary staff through recruitment agencies. By company this figure is broken down as:
	
		
			   Number 
			 Reed 130 
			 Brook Street 15 
			 Morgan Hunt 13 
			 Badenoch and Clark 2 
			 Venn Group 1 
			 Monarch Recruitment 2 
			 Allen Lane 3 
			 Michael Page 2 
			 Sue Hill 1 
		
	
	Figures are unavailable prior to 2008
	Details of average length of bookings could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Trade Unions

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to the answer of 21 October 2008,  Official Report, column 237W, on trade unions, to which trades union the civil servant was seconded; and when the civil servant was seconded.

Sadiq Khan: The civil servant in question was seconded to Prospect on 16 October 2006.

Empty Property: Business Premises

John Leech: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many business premises have qualified for empty property rates relief in each of the last five years.

John Healey: Details of the value of empty property relief granted from national non-domestic rates in England in the last five financial years from 2003-04 to 2007-08 were published in a statistical release on 17 September 2008 and are available on the Communities and Local Government website at:
	http://www.local.communities.gov.uk/finance/ctax/ndr078o.htm
	Information on the numbers of properties qualifying for relief is not available centrally.

Fire Services: Floods

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what her most recent assessment is of the state of readiness of the fire and rescue services to respond to incidents of flooding.

Sadiq Khan: At the local level, fire and rescue authorities have duties to conduct risk assessments of their area as part of their integrated risk management planning process. This complements work under the Civil Contingencies Act 2004, where local responders collectively consider risks, through local resilience forums. If it is concluded that there is a risk of flooding in that area, local responders, including the fire and rescue service, may equip themselves appropriately to meet that risk.
	At the national level, my Department has provided the fire and rescue service with 46 high volume pumps, to extract and move significant amounts of water. We have also funded the appropriate level of training to use the high volume pumps. The high volume pumps have been used to great effect during floods.

Fire Services: Industrial Disputes

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent discussions she has had with fire and rescue authorities on their contingency plans in the event of a national firefighters' strike; and if she will make a statement.

Sadiq Khan: The Civil Contingencies Act 2004 lays down duties for specified "Category 1 responders", including fire and rescue authorities, to assess, plan and advise in relation to emergencies. For a fire and rescue authority, an emergency includes a period of industrial action. Contingency planning matters are raised from time to time with Ministers and officials by representatives of fire and rescue authorities. No discussions are currently in hand with any individual authority regarding national industrial action.

Homelessness: Floods

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  how many people in each local authority area affected have not yet returned to their homes following the floods of summer 2007;
	(2)  how many people who have not yet returned to their homes following the floods of summer 2007 are still living  (a) in caravans,  (b) in hotels,  (c) in bed and breakfast accommodation,  (d) in temporary accommodation and  (e) with relatives in each local authority area.

John Healey: As at 17 November 2008, we estimate, based on local authority returns, that 1,040 households remain wholly or partially displaced from their homes following the floods of summer 2007. We estimate that 118 of these households were living wholly or partially in caravans. A breakdown of the figures by local authority area and an accompanying press notice is available at:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/news/corporate/1086343
	Approximately 100 households have been returning each week between the end of June and the middle of November and on that basis we expect around 500 households will not be fully back in their homes by Christmas, most of these for specific reasons, including: extra work such as extensions being done at the same time, delays starting repair work (for example because suitable contractors weren't available); the need to wait for drying out to complete before work could begin; problems with builders; difficulties with insurers; and, remedial work needing to be re-done.
	However, the good progress in the long haul of flood recovery means almost 19 out of 20 households displaced by the floods of summer 2007 floods will be fully home by Christmas. That figure compares well to the Carlisle floods in 2005 when one in 10 were still out of their homes after 18 months. Nevertheless, I recognise it is no consolation to those still displaced and I will continue to work with local authorities and the insurance industry to ensure that the momentum in getting people home is maintained. I am particularly concerned about families still living in caravans and I have linked up with council leaders in the most affected authorities to offer additional support to help those households over the Christmas period.
	The Department does not collect information on other types of alternative accommodation in which those still displaced from their homes may be living.

Homelessness: Hertfordshire

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many homeless  (a) children and  (b) adults are in temporary accommodation in (i) Hemel Hempstead and (ii) Hertfordshire.

Iain Wright: Information about English local authorities' actions under the homelessness legislation (Part 7 of the Housing Act 1996) is collected quarterly at local authority level, about households rather than individuals. Hemel Hempstead constituency lies within the Dacorum local authority.
	Data collected include the number of households accepted by local housing authorities as eligible for assistance, unintentionally homeless and in priority need, and therefore owed a main homelessness duty (to secure that suitable accommodation is available). If a settled home is not immediately available, the authority must secure temporary accommodation until a settled home becomes available.
	Information on the numbers of households housed in temporary accommodation is reported quarterly by local authorities as at the last day of each quarter. The figures include: those households which have been accepted as owed the main homelessness duty; those for which inquiries are pending; those being accommodated for a limited period because they have been found intentionally homeless and in priority need; those being accommodated pending possible referral to another authority, and those being accommodated pending the outcome of a local authority review or county court appeal.
	The number of dependent children (or expected children) in these households is also collected, but data on the number of adults are not. The latest (end September 2008) figures for total households and total children reported by the Hertfordshire authorities are shown in Table 1 as follows:
	
		
			  Table 1: Households in temporary accommodation, and number of children within these households (as at 30 September 2008) 
			  Local authority  Total households in TA arranged by authority  Total children (and expected children) within these households 
			 Broxbourne 57 — 
			 Dacorum 13 8 
			 East Hertfordshire 43 45 
			 Hertsmere 59 90 
			 North Hertfordshire 47 44 
			 St Albans 70 79 
			 Stevenage 117 142 
			 Three Rivers 26 36 
			 Watford 75 93 
			 Welwyn Hatfield 103 64 
			 '—' signifies data not reported by authority.

Homeowner Mortgage Support Scheme

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many households will be assisted each year as part of the Homeowner Mortgage Support Scheme.

Iain Wright: As part of a much wider package of real help for homeowners, the recently announced Homeowner Mortgage Support Scheme will enable ordinary hard working households that experience a redundancy or significant loss of income to reduce their monthly payments to a more manageable level, by deferring a proportion of the interest payments on their mortgage for up to two years. The Government will guarantee to lenders they will get the payments back in return for them participating in the scheme.
	We are not setting a limit or a target for the number of households this scheme can help—this is a consumer and lender-led scheme, backed up by a Government guarantee. We want to see this scheme help as many households as possible.

Housing: Low Incomes

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many local authorities  (a) have retained direct ownership and management of their social housing stock,  (b) have transferred housing to a registered social landlord and  (c) use an arm's-length management organisation to manage their social housing stock.

Iain Wright: holding answer 10 December 2008
	Of the 354 district and single tier local authorities, 170 have transferred all of their housing stock to a registered social landlord, with six more planning to do so. 112 have direct management of their stock and are not on the transfer or ALMO programme. 66 authorities have an Arms Length Management Organisation, of which 15 have also transferred some of their stock to one or more registered social landlords.

Housing: Overcrowding

Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what progress has been made in her Department's £15 million programme to pilot measures to tackle household overcrowding.

Iain Wright: This year we have established 38 overcrowding pathfinder areas (all London boroughs, Birmingham, Bradford, Leicester, Liverpool and Manchester). Each pathfinder has received £110,000, this financial year, to enable them to collect more robust data on overcrowding and develop strategies and action plans to tackle overcrowding.
	Pathfinders are doing this by building on some of the lessons learnt from pilot projects in London which sought to make better use of existing stock through reducing under occupation, better use of the private rented sector and offering housing options to mitigate the effects of overcrowding. We will be seeking progress reports from pathfinders before the end of the financial year.
	We will shortly look at options for taking forward the pathfinder programme in 2009-10.

Housing: Repairs and Maintenance

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps she plans to take to assist low income homeowners of state pension age to carry out home maintenance and renewal works.

Iain Wright: We published "Lifetime Homes, Lifetime Neighbourhoods—A National Strategy for Housing in an Ageing Society" earlier this year, which addresses the housing and related service needs of older people. This includes initiatives for the promotion and development of better home repairs and adaptations services. Additional funding of over £30 million from 2009 will go to support local agencies, such as home improvement agencies, to help older people with minor repairs and adaptations.
	£10.2 billion has been allocated by my Department for 2008-11 for regional housing capital programmes, including those which address the condition of private sector housing stock. Of this, almost £2 billion is for improvements and regeneration to the existing stock (both local authority owned and private sector). We have issued guidance to regional assemblies which asks them to continue to prioritise those most in need with the expectation that packages of assistance including grants, loans, and equity release schemes are made available to individual homeowners.
	Under the Regulatory Reform (Housing Assistance) (England and Wales) Order 2002 (the RRO) local authorities have a great deal of flexibility and freedom in providing discretionary assistance for repairs and adaptations. It is also for the local authority to decide the circumstances in which to give discretionary assistance, what form that assistance may take (e.g. grants, loans, equity release schemes etc.) and what, if any, conditions to attach.
	Central Government do not prescribe the exact manner in which these powers are used but we expect local authorities to offer packages of assistance to householders, taking into account local priorities, the individual circumstances of the applicant and the resources available to the local authority, we have said that we expect support to continue to go to those most in need.
	In addition, the Government's Supporting People programme allows local authorities to fund handy person schemes for their local area if an authority wishes to do so. The Supporting People ring-fenced grant conditions will be removed from 2009-10 to enable Local Authorities to better meet the needs of vulnerable clients, including older people, by the use of more flexible innovative services.

Housing: Thames Gateway

Howard Stoate: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many  (a) house completions and  (b) house starts there have been in each local authority area in the Thames Gateway growth area in (i) each of the last four quarters and (ii) each of the last four years.

Iain Wright: The following tables show house building starts and completions in each local authority in the Thames Gateway growth area for each quarter in the last four years.
	
		
			  House building starts in the Thames Gateway growth area in each of the last four quarters from 2004 - 05 until 2007 - 08 
			   2004 - 05  2005 - 06 
			  Starts  Q1  Q2  Q3  Q4  Total  Q1  Q2  Q3  Q4  Total 
			 Barking and Dagenham 53 189 432 59 733 278 42 27 296 643 
			 Basildon 144 155 64 153 516 127 149 110 124 510 
			 Bexley 43 44 14 14 115 33 45 127 75 280 
			 Castle Point 16 121 19 78 234 34 14 27 71 116 
			 Dartford 110 179 47 86 422 68 91 48 80 287 
			 Gravesham 93 50 52 46 241 128 62 92 559 841 
			 Greenwich 209 278 160 860 1,507 329 196 291 406 1,222 
			 Havering 43 126 198 145 512 66 77 464 159 766 
			 Lewisham — — — — — — — — — — 
			 Medway 171 76 67 124 438 125 93 115 53 386 
			 Newham 97 — 67 471 — 352 157 84 — — 
			 Rochford 49 34 192 19 294 171 52 63 85 371 
			 Southend-on-Sea 42 80 161 34 317 54 34 93 50 231 
			 Swale 121 109 90 172 492 286 240 133 164 823 
			 Thurrock 187 183 168 220 758 288 20 145 168 621 
			 Tower Hamlets 717 377 556 327 1,997 398 1,036 794 190 2,418 
		
	
	
		
			   2006 - 07  2007 - 08 
			  Starts  Q1  Q2  Q3  Q4  Total  Q1  Q2  Q3  Q4  Total 
			 Barking and Dagenham 322 141 296 16 775 100 16 50 54 220 
			 Basildon 93 90 112 163 458 206 133 215 205 759 
			 Bexley 125 46 75 97 343 37 124 3 25 189 
			 Castle Point 32 21 34 29 116 43 14 33 10 100 
			 Dartford 72 114 105 176 467 256 160 42 131 589 
			 Gravesham 22 26 45 42 135 82 155 120 45 402 
			 Greenwich 15 33 302 16 366 56 72 369 — — 
			 Havering 94 74 172 124 464 63 125 120 110 418 
			 Lewisham — 69 99 132 — 30 48 — 110 — 
			 Medway 78 141 51 177 447 212 — 207 141 — 
			 Newham — — — — — — — 121 — — 
			 Rochford 99 18 138 79 334 35 51 49 28 163 
			 Southend-on-Sea 57 56 179 41 333 54 40 233 51 378 
			 Swale 247 344 147 195 933 264 — 273 172 — 
			 Thurrock 16 12 90 108 226 99 15 74 8 196 
			 Tower Hamlets 201 203 227 224 855 212 87 454 151 904 
			  Notes: 1. The Thames Gateway is comprised of parts of 16 local authorities. 2. Figures are as reported by the local authorities and the National House—Building Council. Where local authorities submitted no P2 returns for one or more quarters, no figure has been presented in the quarter or annual total as presenting NHBC information only would under—report the true level of house building completions in the local authority.  Source:  New build starts from P2 quarterly returns submitted by local authorities and the National House—Building Council to CLG. 
		
	
	
		
			  House building completions in the Thames Gateway growth area in each of the last four quarters from 2004-05 until 2007-08 
			   2004-05  2005-06 
			  Completions  Q1  Q2  Q3  Q4  Total  Q1  Q2  Q3  Q4  Total 
			 Barking and Dagenham 127 126 115 172 576 222 95 84 66 467 
			 Basildon 91 73 88 79 331 111 116 75 99 401 
			 Bexley 103 24 39 55 221 34 27 8 71 140 
			 Castle Point 8 51 77 9 145 15 42 48 71 176 
			 Dartford 133 82 95 70 380 107 65 113 81 366 
			 Gravesham 116 180 192 26 514 52 40 82 103 277 
			 Greenwich 290 639 309 338 1,576 328 189 317 239 1,073 
			 Havering 119 102 166 70 457 222 86 114 64 486 
			 Lewisham — — — — — — — — — — 
			 Medway 102 151 76 201 530 99 145 227 91 562 
			 Newham 149 — 230 153 — 222 181 187 — — 
			 Rochford 19 17 19 38 93 36 20 54 69 179 
			 Southend-on-Sea 35 39 119 56 269 60 121 178 35 394 
			 Swale 145 112 99 60 416 71 87 200 132 490 
			 Thurrock 123 123 245 177 668 219 97 334 12 662 
			 Tower Hamlets 1,113 765 950 124 2,952 228 294 330 1,066 1,918 
		
	
	
		
			   2006-07  2007-08 
			  Completions  Q1  Q2  Q3  Q4  Total  Q1  Q2  Q3  Q4  Total 
			 Barking and Dagenham 128 148 121 208 605 183 264 108 250 805 
			 Basildon 90 144 89 198 521 80 104 51 495 730 
			 Bexley 21 16 63 112 212 116 40 11 135 302 
			 Castle Point 41 53 103 36 233 11 29 34 20 94 
			 Dartford 131 75 93 98 397 214 168 284 241 907 
			 Gravesham 68 46 33 140 287 48 94 61 35 238 
			 Greenwich 397 347 139 251 1,134 262 217 141 — — 
			 Havering 250 70 106 224 650 115 227 190 135 667 
			 Lewisham 155 238 175 401 969 55 263 350 464 1,132 
			 Medway 71 — 66 117 326 170 — 170 187 — 
			 Newham —  — — — — — 82 — — 
			 Rochford 126 42 16 178 362 131 48 12 54 245 
			 Southend-on-Sea 66 83 42 23 214 64 108 89 29 290 
			 Swale 189 156 236 156 737 287 — 190 89 — 
			 Thurrock 148 39 403 96 686 6 96 48 29 179 
			 Tower Hamlets 421 632 398 453 1,904 95 384 720 133 1,332 
			  Notes: 1. The Thames Gateway is comprised of parts of 16 local authorities. 2. Figures are as reported by the local authorities and the National House-Building Council. Where local authorities submitted no P2 returns for one or more quarters, no figure has been presented in the quarter or annual total as presenting NHBC information only would under-report the true level of house building completions in the local authority.  Source:  New build completions from P2 quarterly returns submitted by local authorities and the National House-Building Council to CLG.

Local Authorities: Small Businesses

Brian Iddon: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which local authorities offer assistance to people wishing to establish themselves in business as market traders.

John Healey: The information requested is not held centrally.

Local Government: Reorganisation

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what requirement there is for a local authority to consult  (a) town and parish councils,  (b) the Lord Lieutenant,  (c) hon. Members and  (d) neighbouring local authorities when applying for borough status; what guidance she has issued to local authorities on the matter; and if she will make a statement.

John Healey: The Secretary of State has issued no guidance on this matter. Under section 245 of the Local Government Act 1972 a district council may petition Her Majesty the Queen through the Privy Council Office for the grant of a Charter conferring the status of borough. The Privy Council Office seeks the views and recommendation of the Secretary of State as Privy Counsellor with policy responsibility for local government matters. The only statutory requirement which a local authority has to meet in order to present a petition is that the district council must resolve by a two thirds majority of its members in favour of a petition before one can be presented. It is a matter for the district council to decide on whether they consult with parish and town councils, Lord Lieutenants or neighbouring local authorities.

Multiple Occupation: Licensing

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to the answer of 25 November 2008,  Official Report, column 1274W, on multiple occupation, which key stakeholders have been consulted in connection with the Building Research Establishment review of the licensing regime for houses in multiple occupation.

Iain Wright: The Building Research Establishment (BRE) has consulted all local authorities in England. The BRE has also conducted a series of focus groups with local community organisations and residents groups, including local landlords and tenants. These views will be reflected in the final report on a non-attributable basis.

Multiple Occupation: Licensing

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to the answer of 25 November 2008,  Official Report, column 1274W, on multiple occupation: coastal areas, if she will make it her policy to collect data on the take-up rate of mandatory licensing of houses in multiple occupation in seaside towns.

Iain Wright: Communities and Local Government collects data from local authorities in England on the processing of applications for licenses for houses in multiple occupation under the provisions of the 2004 Housing Act. These provide total numbers of applications for, approvals and refusals of licenses. No statistics have been produced specifically for seaside towns but statistics for the local authority areas that approximate to seaside towns are shown in the following table.
	It is not possible to calculate take-up rates as there is no source for data on the number of licensable properties at local level.
	
		
			  HMO licensing in seaside town local authorities 12  November 2008 
			  Seaside town  Local authority  Number of applications for HMO licenses  Number of HMO licenses issued  Number of HMO licenses refused 
			 Bognor Regis Arun (Part) 69 (1)— (1)— 
			 Bridlington East Riding (1)— (1)— (1)— 
			 Burnham-on-Sea Sedgemoor 9 8 0 
			 Clacton Tendring 6 6 0 
			 Dawlish/Teignmouth Teignbridge 1 1 0 
			 Deal Dover 20 16 0 
			 Eastbourne Eastbourne 233 23 0 
			 Exmouth East Devon (Part) 35 35 0 
			 Falmouth Carrick 85 84 1 
			 Folkestone/Hythe Shepway 41 23 0 
			 Great Yarmouth Great Yarmouth 55 (1)— (1)— 
			 Greater Blackpool Blackpool 107 106 1 
			 Greater Blackpool Fylde 3 3 0 
			 Greater Blackpool Wyre 10 10 0 
			 Greater Bournemouth Bournemouth 621 490 0 
			 Greater Bournemouth Poole 92 42 0 
			 Greater Bournemouth Christchurch 1 1 0 
			 Greater Brighton Brighton and Hove 295 292 0 
			 Greater Brighton Adur (Part) 4 2 2 
			 Greater Worthing Arun (Part) (2)— (2)— (2)— 
			 Greater Worthing Worthing 41 41 0 
			 Greater Worthing Adur (Part) (2)— (2)— 0 
			 Hastings/Bexhill Hastings 35 15 0 
			 Hastings/Bexhill Rother 14 13 0 
			 Ilfracombe North Devon 34 30 1 
			 Isle of Wight Isle of Wight 31 (1)— (1)— 
			 Lowestoft Waveney 8 6 0 
			 Minehead West Somerset 6 (1)— (1)— 
			 Morecambe/Heysham Lancaster 345 (1)— (1)— 
			 Newquay Restormel 498 489 0 
			 Penzance Penwith (Part) 36 33 0 
			 Saint Ives Penwith (Part) (2)— (2)— 0 
			 Scarborough Scarborough 30 30 0 
			 Sidmouth East Devon (Part) (2)— (2)— (2)— 
			 Skegness East Lindsey 61 (1)— (1)— 
			 Southend-on-Sea Southend-on-Sea 45 42 1 
			 Southport Sefton 20 20 0 
			 Swanage Purbeck 1 1 0 
			 Thanet Thanet 64 63 1 
			 Torbay Torbay 92 (1)— (1)— 
			 Weston-super-Mare North Somerset 80 78 0 
			 Weymouth Weymouth and Portland 69 (1)— (1)— 
			 Whitby Scarborough (Part) (2)— (2)— 0 
			 Whitley Bay North Tyneside 8 1 2 
			 Whitstable/Herne Bay Canterbury 161 (1)— (1)— 
			  
			 All seaside towns  3,366 2,004 9 
			  
			 England  29,254 19,208 84 
			 (1) Data not yet provided by the local authority (2) The local authority area covers two different seaside towns. In these cases no attempt has been made to apportion the HMO licence records between the two. The total records for the local authority are therefore shown against the first of the two seaside towns to appear in the list; there is no figure for the second, shown bold.

Non-Domestic Rates: Business

Julian Brazier: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when she expects to make an announcement on proposals to allow businesses facing backdated business rates bills more time to pay.

John Healey: It is intended that a business rates information letter will be issued shortly setting out the further details.

Ordnance Survey: Copyright

John Howell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will take steps to remove the copyright restrictions imposed by Ordnance Survey on the re-use of its data.

Iain Wright: The HM Treasury/Shareholder Executive assessment of trading funds has considered the potential for innovation and growth from increasing commercial and other use of public sector information including Ordnance Survey data. It will shortly publish some key principles for the re-use of this information, and consider how these should be applied to ensure that Government policy is fully reflected in practice.
	As part of the assessment, Ordnance Survey is in the process of undertaking a strategic review of its operations and underlying business model. My aim is for Ordnance Survey data to be made more widely available for exploitation for the benefit of the wider UK economy. Further details will be announced in due course.
	In the meantime Ordnance Survey will continue to enable users of all types to access a wide range of data through its normal licensing arrangements.

Planning Permission

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the value of section 106 monies held by each local authority was in each of the last three financial years.

Iain Wright: Information on the value of section 106 monies held by each local authority is not collected centrally. However, the Department for Communities and Local Government has produced research reports into the value of planning obligations in England for 2003-04 and 2005-06 based on a sample of authorities across the country. It was estimated that the total value of planning obligations agreed in England in 2003-04 was £1.9 billion and in 2005-06 the estimate had risen to £4 billion. These reports are available on the Department's website. New research covering 2007-08 has recently been commissioned and will be published in summer 2009.
	Appropriate openness over the collection and use of s106 monies is an important element of local authority accountability and the Government recommend in planning Circular 05/05 that authorities keep accurate records which can be used to inform the public. In July, the Government announced in the Empowerment White Paper that it will explore whether more can be done to strengthen this local accountability.

Property Development: Floods

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent representations she has received on the planning guidance announced on 26 November relating to flood protection for new developments; and if she will make a statement.

Huw Irranca-Davies: I have been asked to reply.
	The Long-Term Initiatives for Flood Risk Environments (LiFE) project, which has produced a guide to help planners and architects develop more integrated and sustainable approaches to site design, was funded by DEFRA's flood risk management innovation fund. This fund was established under the Government's Making Space for Water flood management strategy to test new and novel ways for managing flood risk in the future that are sustainable and deliver a range of benefits.
	Where the sequential approach set out in Government Planning Policy (PPS25) shows that there are no reasonably available sites in areas with a lower probability of flooding and the need for the development outweighs the flood risk, development may, exceptionally, need to go ahead in flood risk areas. In such cases, PPS25 and its accompanying practice guide emphasises the importance of site layout and design in mitigating the impacts of flood risk. The LiFE guide is a useful contribution towards increasing awareness of flood risk management issues and highlights some potential solutions. It does not however replace current planning policy and guidance set out in PPS25 and the accompanying practice guide.

Public Lavatories: Disabled

David Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what plans she has to encourage  (a) local authorities and  (b) commercial operators in charge of public places to install Changing Places toilets.

Sadiq Khan: In March 2008 the Department published a Strategic Guide on Improving Access to Better Quality Toilets, which set out the range of powers and approaches that local authorities and their partners can use to improve public access to toilets for all people. This drew attention to the Changing Places campaign, and the importance of providing suitably equipped toilets for people with profound and multiple disabilities, and their carers.
	CLG officials also contribute to the work of the British Standards Institute and have been involved in current work on updating British Standard BS8300 "Design of Buildings and their approaches to meet the needs of disabled people—Code of practice" to provide detailed technical guidance on the design of Changing Places facilities. The revised document is expected to be published in spring 2009.

Public Lavatories: Disabled

David Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what plans she has to implement the recommendations in the Communities and Local Government Committee's Twelfth report of Session 2007-08, HC 636, on provision of public toilets that  (a) local authorities make appropriate provision for disabled public toilets, taking the British Standard relating to the provision of disabled public toilets as their primary guideline and  (b) her Department impose a duty on each local authority to develop a strategy on the provision of public toilets in their areas, including consultation with local communities and reviewed annually.

Sadiq Khan: These issues will be covered in the Department's formal response to the Committee's report, which we aim to submit by 12 January 2009.

Regional Ministers: Official Engagements

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the official engagements were of  (a) the Minister for London,  (b) the Minister for Yorkshire and the Humber and  (c) the Minister for the South East in their roles as regional ministers from 1 November to 30 November 2008.

Sadiq Khan: The information requested is in the following table.
	
		
			  Official engagements for Ministers for London, Yorkshire and the Humber and the South East of England—1 to 30 November 2008 
			   Outline of visit  Location 
			  London   
			 5 November 2008 Speech at launch of LYCPB London Schools Programme for Safety and Cohesion Tower of London, City of London 
			 12 November 2008 Meeting with the London Youth Crime Prevention Board Caxton House, Westminster 
			 19 November 2008 Chaired the London Child Poverty Summit Lovells, Holborn Viaduct, City of London 
			 20 November 2008 Speech at the London Talent Debate Excel, Docklands, Newham 
			 25 November 2008 Pre-Budget Report Event British Chambers of Commerce, City of London 
			 25 November 2008 Speech at the Launch of the London Pledge for Children in Care The Oval Conference Centre, Lambeth 
			 26 November 2008 Speech at the Thames Gateway Forum Troxy Theatre, Limehouse, Tower Hamlets 
			
			  Yorkshire and the Humber   
			 3 November 2008 Meeting with The Most Reverend and Right Hon. Dr. John Sentamu, Archbishop of York Meeting with Leeds City Region Partnership York 
			 4 November 2008 Meeting with Chairman Lloyds TSB London 
			 7 November 2008 Social Inclusion Workshop: Mental Health and Employment Event Leeds 
			 10 November 2008 Visit to Hull and Humber including meeting with Humber Economic Partnership (HEP), visit to Nisa-Today's Ltd., Humberside Airport, and World Trade Centre Hull Hull 
			 11 November 2008 Meeting with British Telecom Yorkshire and Humber MPs BT dinner London 
			 14 November 2008 Meeting with Environment Agency Climate Change Action Plan High Level Meeting Meeting with right hon. John Denham MP and Business Ambassadors Skills Pledge commitment "ceremony" Leeds 
			 17 November 2008 Yorkshire and Humber Economic Development Group Meetings—Financial Task Force and with MPs and Union Leeds and Halifax 
			 20 November 2008 HBOS/Lloyds Public Meeting Halifax 
			 21 November 2008 East Riding Local Strategic Partnership Conference 2008—Achieving Our Ambition Bridlington 
			 27 November 2008 Yorkshire and Humber Assembly Event: Short-Term Issues/Long-Term Solutions York 
			 28 November 2008 Series of engagements for Cabinet visit to the region Halifax and Leeds 
			
			  South East of England   
			 4 November 2008 Hampshire Climate Change Commission Winchester, Hampshire 
			 6 November 2008 RAISE Conference Oxford 
			 7 November 2008 Opening of new carpentry workshop Maidstone, Kent 
			 10 November 2008 Health Stakeholder Event (Jonathan Shaw attended as both the Minister for the South East and Carers Minister, for which has responsibility as a DWP Minister) Brighton 
			 10 November 2008 SEEDA Regional Housing Dinner London 
			 11 November 2008 Meeting with British Telecom London 
			 12 November 2008 Regional Funding Advice (RFA) meeting London 
			 13 November 2008 Strategic Skills meeting with John Denham London 
			 20 November 2008 CBI dinner London 
			 24 November 2008 South East Economic Delivery Council London 
			 25 November 2008 Regional Skills Pledge Event—Surrey Chamber of Commerce Guildford, Surrey 
			 26 November 2008 Thames Gateway Forum Annual Conference London

Regional Planning and Development: Coastal Areas

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to the Answer of 25 November 2008,  Official Report, column 1277W, on regeneration: coastal areas, if she will consider collecting and holding, at central level, information on the work of the Regional Improvement and Efficiency Partnerships in respect of the principal seaside towns.

Sadiq Khan: We will collect and hold such information in respect of the principal seaside towns as is in line with the principles of measuring success for the Regional Improvement and Efficiency Partnerships set out in the National Improvement and Efficiency Strategy
	www.communities.gov.uk/documents/localgovernment/pdf/649026.pdf.

Regional Planning and Development: South West

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many people her Department is employing specifically to deal with representations on the South West Regional Spatial Strategy; and if she will make a statement.

Sadiq Khan: Most of the Government Office for the South West's planning and housing delivery team of 20 staff, including seven chartered town planners, will deal with representations, but none will be devoted exclusively to Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS) work. Work on local development frameworks, casework, New Growth Points and other aspects of housing delivery will continue in parallel with the RSS. The permanent team has been supplemented by three members of staff seconded from the Planning Inspectorate and seven agency staff, who are currently dealing with the responses to the Secretary of State's Proposed Changes for the Regional Spatial Strategy. Numerous staff at the Department of Communities and Local Government Planning Directorate will contribute to assessing options to respond to representations, but they are not expected to deal with individual representations, and none will be devoted exclusively to work on the South West's RSS.

Rented Housing: Private Sector

Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which local authorities have applied to introduce selective licensing of the private rented sector under the provisions contained within Part 3 of the Housing Act 2004.

Iain Wright: The following local authorities have been granted departmental approval to operate selective licensing schemes under Part 3 of the Housing Act 2004.
	Salford City Council
	Middlesbrough Borough Council
	Manchester City Council
	Gateshead Borough Council
	Sedgefield Borough Council
	Bolton Borough Council and
	Burnley Borough Council
	Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council
	District of Easington Council
	The Department is also currently considering applications for selective licensing from Leeds City Council, Hartlepool Borough Council and Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council (second proposed designation).

TRANSPORT

A1

Anne Moffat: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he plans to consider the merits of dualling of the A1 from Newcastle to East Lothian.

Paul Clark: There are currently no plans to consider full dualling between Newcastle and the Scottish border. Two discrete dualling schemes, from Morpeth to Felton and Adderstone to Belford, were considered by the North East Interim Transport Board in 2006 for funding through the central Government Regional Funding Allocation. However in its 2006 advice to Ministers the region concluded that within the resources available these improvements could not be prioritised.
	All Regional Transport Boards have been asked to review their Regional Funding Allocation priorities this year. These schemes will be considered by the Region along with others, and this represents an opportunity for supporters of improvements on the A1 North of Newcastle to make their views heard. The Region will submit its advice to Ministers on its priorities early in 2009 for consideration.

A21: East Sussex

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the potential economic benefits to the East Sussex area of planned improvements to the A21.

Paul Clark: No assessment has been made of the potential economic benefits at this stage. Consideration will be given to preparation of an economic impact report examining the economic effect of the A21 schemes on the Hastings regeneration area and will be published at the same time as draft Highways Act orders.

A21: East Sussex

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the timescale is for the Bexhill Link Road Project; when he expects the link road to be completed; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Clark: The proposed Bexhill to Hastings link road, a local major road scheme being promoted by East Sussex county council, was granted initial Government funding approval in December 2004 with an agreed funding contribution from the Department for Transport of £47.12 million towards the cost of the scheme.
	The council has subsequently reported that the estimated total cost of the scheme has increased to £96 million. The council will now need to submit an updated business case to the Department in order that a re-appraisal can be undertaken in accordance with the Department's guidance. This is needed to ensure that the scheme remains value for money at the higher cost before a final decision is taken on whether to provide additional funding.
	The council are currently reporting that main construction works could commence in June 2010 with completion in December 2012. However this is subject to the scheme also completing necessary statutory and procurement procedures and also obtaining the relevant funding approvals from the Department before construction could commence.

Biofuels

Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate his Department has made of the quantity of biofuel to be provided in 2008-09 under the original 2.5 per cent. target under the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligations Order 2007; and what estimate has been made of the quantity to be provided in 2008-09 following the amendment to the definition of relevant hydrocarbon oil from April 2009.

Jim Fitzpatrick: holding answer 10 December 2008
	In the first year of the obligation it was expected that approximately 1.25 billion litres of biofuel would be supplied. As a result of the discrepancy in the RTFO order the Renewable Fuels Agency estimate that around half of the fossil fuel supplied to date may not be obligated. However, the extent of any shortfall in biofuel supplied will not be known until the end of the obligation year.

Blackwall Tunnel: Road Traffic

Clive Efford: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with the Mayor of London on traffic congestion on the Blackwall Tunnel approach roads; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Fitzpatrick: None. Congestion on these roads is an operational matter for the Mayor, Transport for London and the relevant borough councils.

Bus Services: Concessions

Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many people in  (a) Gateshead and  (b) Sunderland have a concessionary bus pass for over 60 year olds.

Paul Clark: The Department for Transport is not responsible for issuing passes and so does not maintain records of how many applications individual authorities have received.
	Gateshead and Sunderland are part of the Tyne and Wear Passenger Transport Executive (Nexus). The last information held by the Department was that as of 7 April this year Nexus had submitted approximately 222,702 applications for the new smartcard concessionary passes for older and disabled people to their pass supplier.

Buses: London

Clive Efford: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with the Mayor of London on the cost of  (a) replacing bendy buses in London and  (b) the reintroduction of Routemaster buses; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Fitzpatrick: None. The composition, contractual arrangements and costs of the London bus fleet are a matter for the Mayor of London and Transport for London. Government have agreed a generous, long term funding settlement with Transport for London. It is now for them to manage their bus contracts within that funding envelope.

Civil Service: Pay

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport with reference to the answer of 26 November 2008,  Official Report, column 1568W, on departmental senior civil servants, who is responsible for determining the overall monetary value of bonuses paid to members of the Senior Civil Service in his Department.

Geoff Hoon: holding answer 10 December 2008
	The total value of bonuses that the Department for Transport may pay to senior civil servants is set by the Government. Individual bonuses within that value, and in accordance with other centrally determined criteria, are determined by the Department's senior civil service remuneration committee.

Dartford Station

Howard Stoate: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps his Department is taking to upgrade Dartford rail station; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Clark: Dartford station has been identified by the industry as a candidate station for funding from the National Stations Improvement Programme. The final selection of stations will be influenced, among other things, by the extent to which third party funding—from local authorities and the private sector—is secured to supplement the industry's own proposals.

Departmental Air Travel

Francis Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport with reference to the answer to the hon. Member for Rochford and Southend East of 6 October 2008,  Official Report, column 196W, on departmental air travel, whether figures for 2007-08 have now been calculated.

Geoff Hoon: The figures for air mileage for 2007-08 have now been calculated. The domestic flight mileage was 693,997, short-haul mileage was 821,311, and long-haul mileage 1,939,471.
	All official travel is carried out in accordance with the requirements of the Civil Service Management Code.

Departmental Consultants

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 17 November 2008,  Official Report, column 32W, by what means consultants and contractors in the Department for Transport Human Resources are hired other than through competitive tender using pre-negotiated frameworks.

Geoff Hoon: holding answer 9 December 2008
	Consultants and contractors are generally secured through a competitive procurement process. However, a procurement exercise without a competition may be justified where, for example, compatibility of expertise with existing or previous work is required or where it is known that only one supplier can meet the need.

Departmental Consultants

Mark Hunter: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much  (a) his Department and  (b) each of its non-departmental public bodies spent on external consultancy on (i) the rail network, (ii) the bus network, (iii) the road network, (iv) air transport, (v) water transport and (vi) other transport in each year since 1997.

Geoff Hoon: holding answer 11 December 2008
	 Expenditure by the Department on external consultancy is not held centrally in the format requested and can be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	Expenditure by non-departmental public bodies on external consultancy can be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	Total expenditure by the central Department and its agencies on consultants in each financial year since it was formed in May 2002 is shown in the following table:
	
		
			  £ million 
			   2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08 
			 DFT Central 57.2 58.5 65.2 64.0 53.6 51.0 
			 Highways Agency 157.5 169.7 115.0 2.4 1.7 2.0 
			 Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency 4.0 3.4 4.8 1.9 18.0 18.4 
			 Driving Standards Agency 4.2 4.0 3.6 1.2 5.1 3.5 
			 Vehicle and Operator Services Agency 3.3 3.0 3.4 1.4 3.0 3.7 
			 Maritime and Coastguard Agency 1.2 0.8 1.2 1.0 1.3 1.5 
			 Vehicle Certification Agency 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 
			 Government Car and Despatch Agency (joined DFT from 2005-06) n/a n/a n/a 0.1 0.1 0.1 
			 Total 227.5 239.5 193.3 72.1 82.9 80.3 
		
	
	The business units within the Department currently use separate accounting systems which record expenditure differently. The totals include a mixture of committed spend (ie orders raised) and actual spend incurred. The Professional Services Forum definition of consultancy has been applied since 2005-06 resulting in more accurate coding of expenditure.
	Expenditure figures from 2005-06 exclude central Department and Highways Agency spend on technical transport related consultancy. Expenditure by the Highways Agency on engineering consultancy is scored as outsourced procurement of specialist services.

Departmental Internet

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport with reference to the answer of 4 November 2008,  Official Report, columns 336-7W, on Government departments: information and communications technology, which IP addresses are used by  (a) his Department and  (b) computers in the offices of its (i) Ministers, (ii) communications officials and (iii) special advisers.

Geoff Hoon: To help defend against electronic attack, it is standard good information security practice for corporate IT systems, not to publish internal IP addresses. When accessing internet websites, the IP addresses of all of the computers on my Department's internal office IT system are hidden behind the following IP addresses which are publicly available—195.92.40.49 and 62.25.106.209. These IP addresses are shared with other Government Departments that use the Government secure intranet.

Departmental Manpower

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport with reference to the answer of 26 November 2008,  Official Report, column 1567W, on departmental senior civil servants, how many of the 192 members of the senior civil service in his Department are employed in  (a) the central Department and  (b) each of his Department's agencies.

Geoff Hoon: holding answer 10 December 2008
	The number of senior civil servants employed in  (a) the central Department and  (b) each of the Department's agencies is set out in the following table:
	
		
			  Organisation  Number of senior civil servants 
			 Department for Transport (Centre) 147 
			 Driving Standards Agency 3 
			 Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency 8 
			 Highways Agency 25 
			 Government Car and Despatch Agency 1 
			 Maritime and Coastguard Agency 4 
			 Vehicle Certification Agency 1 
			 Vehicle and Operator Services Agency 3 
			 Total 192

Departmental Official Hospitality

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much his Department spent on Ministerial hospitality in  (a) 2004-05,  (b) 2005-06,  (c) 2006-07 and  (d) 2007-08, expressed in current prices.

Geoff Hoon: The information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost. All spending on official entertainment is made in accordance with the principles set out in "Managing Public Money".

Departmental Temporary Employment

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport with reference to the answer of 27 October 2008,  Official Report, column 604W, on departmental temporary employment, how many staff were recruited through each company in each year; and for how long on average staff recruited through these companies worked for the Department in each year.

Geoff Hoon: The information requested can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Training

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the Professional Skills for Government Competency Framework will be rolled out to all grades below the senior civil service across the whole of his Department.

Geoff Hoon: holding answer 9 December 2008
	The Department for Transport competency framework for employees in pay bands 1-7 has already been developed following wide consultation with colleagues and representative groups from across the Department, including the agencies.
	The core framework have been placed in the Libraries of the House.

Driving Offences: Insurance

Mark Hunter: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the Continuous Insurance Enforcement scheme will come into force.

Jim Fitzpatrick: holding answer 9 December 2008
	We intend to consult on the detailed implementation of the scheme early in the new year and then lay implementing regulations during the course of 2009-10. Full delivery of the scheme is planned to commence in 2010-11.

Driving Offences: Insurance

Mark Hunter: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps the Government are taking to ensure that cars are driven only by drivers whose names are included on the vehicle's insurance certificate.

Jim Fitzpatrick: holding answer 9 December 2008
	No such steps are being taken. A vehicle may be legally driven by any driver whose policy has a clause that allows that driver to drive any other vehicle with the owner's permission (commonly referred to as DOV cover) on a third-party liability basis.

Driving Tests

Adam Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what population density figure was used to calculate the distance to the nearest acceptable alternative driving test centre, with reference to each driving test centre which  (a) has had its closure announced and  (b) was considered for closure in the last 24 months; and what geographical or constituency boundary was used to calculate the population density in each case.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Driving Standards Agency (DSA) has population density criteria travel distance contained in its 'Code of Practice on Written Consultations—Driving Test Centres', copies of which are available in the Libraries of the House. These criteria are applied in considering each test centre closure. They are:
	
		
			  Indicator  Population density  Distance criteria 
			 1 Equal to or greater than 1,250 persons per square kilometre No more than 7 miles 
			 2 Between 101 and 1,249 persons per square kilometre No more than 20 miles 
			 3 Equal to or less than 100 persons per square kilometre No more than 30 miles 
		
	
	The population densities applied are for district or unitary authorities. The population density data are from 2004 supplied by the Office of National Statistics and mapped to cover the 1998 structure of local authorities.
	Tables have been placed in the Libraries of the House listing practical test centres relocated or closed by DSA over the past 24 months and those which DSA has announced will be relocating or closing, showing the population density indicator used in the consideration of the closure.

Driving Tests

Mark Hunter: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many driving tests were taken, and how many new drivers passed their driving test, in  (a) England,  (b) the North West,  (c) Stockport metropolitan borough council area and  (d) Cheadle constituency in each year since 1997.

Jim Fitzpatrick: holding answer 9 December 2008
	The Information placed in the Libraries of the House includes tests conducted by the Driving Standards Agency (DSA) and by non-DSA driving examiners. DSA does not have a test centre in the Cheadle constituency. No motorcycle tests are conducted in the Stockport metropolitan borough council area.

Driving Tests: Motorcycles

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport for what reason his Department implemented EU Directive 2000/56/EC to provide that the emergency stop manoeuvre in motor cycle tests must be taken at 31.7mph instead of 30mph; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Fitzpatrick: holding answer 9 December 2008
	It has been the policy of successive UK Governments to implement EU directives. EU directive 2000/56/EC set extra and more demanding special exercises that must be included in every practical motorcycling test, including:
	at least two manoeuvres executed at slow speed, including a slalom.
	at least two manoeuvres executed at higher speed, of which one manoeuvre should be in second or third gear, at a speed of at least 30 kph, and one manoeuvre avoiding an obstacle at a minimum speed of 50 kph.
	at least two braking exercises, including an emergency brake at a minimum speed of 50 kph.
	These new EU standards necessitated significant changes to the practical motorcycling test undertaken in GB. During public consultation there were overwhelming road safety objections to conducting the higher-speed emergency braking exercise in an environment where there may be pedestrians or other traffic. The case for secure off-road testing areas was conclusive.
	The new multi purpose test centres (MPTCs) are based on an updated test centre design that provides modern facilities for local people. MPTCs are attractive buildings which fit comfortably into the local environment. They are fully compliant with the Disability Discrimination Act and also support the Government's wider sustainability agenda.
	MPTCs are purpose designed to deliver modern driving test for learner car drivers and motorcyclists and, where possible, they will also be used for the delivery of other types of driving test.

Driving: Licensing

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  for what reason plastic and paper combination driving licences were given an expiry date different to that of other forms of driving licences;
	(2)  what notification drivers are given when their plastic and paper combination driving licences are due to expire;
	(3)  what penalty will be applied to drivers who continue to drive without renewing their plastic and paper combination driving licence.

Jim Fitzpatrick: holding answer 11 December 2008
	A photocard and paper counterpart driving licence is valid for 10 years from the date of issue. This is to ensure that the photographon the photocard remains a current likeness of the driver.
	The photocard licence holder will be sent a renewal reminder two months in advance of the date of expiry.
	Drivers who fail to renew their photocard licence are liable for prosecution resulting in a fine up to £1,000.

East London Line

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent discussions he has had with the Mayor of London on the funding of the phase 2 extension of the East London Line.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Secretary of State and Mayor of London meet regularly to discuss the delivery of transport services in London. In addition, Department for Transport officials have held a number of discussions with Transport for London (TfL) regarding East London line Phase 2b. The Department has committed to provide support for more than 50 per cent. of the capital costs of the project. It is now for the Mayor to decide upon the priority he accords to the scheme compared to other transport schemes in London.
	Discussions continue with TfL.

External Consultants

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what payments the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency has made to external consultants in each of the last five years  (a) in total and  (b) broken down by payments to (i) management consultancies, (ii) public affairs consultancies, (iii) public relations consultancies, (iv) advertising agencies and (v) other organisations;
	(2)  what payments his Department has made to external consultancies in each of the last five years, broken down by payments to  (a) management consultancies,  (b) public affairs consultancies,  (c) public relations consultancies,  (d) advertising agencies and  (e) other consultancies;
	(3)  what payments the Driving Standards Agency has made to external consultancies in each of the last five years, broken down by payments to  (a) management consultancies,  (b) public affairs consultancies,  (c) public relations consultancies,  (d) advertising agencies and  (e) other consultancies;
	(4)  what payments the Vehicle Certification Agency has made to external consultancies in each of the last five years, broken down by payments to  (a) management consultancies,  (b) public affairs consultancies,  (c) public relations consultancies,  (d) advertising agencies and  (e) other consultancies;
	(5)  what payments the Highways Agency has made to external consultancies in each of the last five years, broken down by payments to  (a) management consultancies,  (b) public affairs consultancies,  (c) public relations consultancies,  (d) advertising agencies and  (e) other consultancies;
	(6)  what payments the Maritime and Coastguard Agency has made to external consultancies in each of the last five years, broken down by payments to  (a) management consultancies,  (b) public affairs consultancies,  (c) public relations consultancies,  (d) advertising agencies and  (e) other consultancies;
	(7)  what payments the Government Car and Despatch Agency has made to external consultancies in each of the last five years, broken down by payments to  (a) management consultancies,  (b) public affairs consultancies,  (c) public relations consultancies,  (d) advertising agencies and  (e) other consultancies;
	(8)  what payments the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency has made to external consultancies in each of the last five years, broken down by payments to  (a) management consultancies,  (b) public affairs consultancies,  (c) public relations consultancies,  (d) advertising agencies and  (e) other consultancies.

Geoff Hoon: Total expenditure by the central Department and its agencies on consultants in each of the last five financial years is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  £ million 
			   2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08 
			 DfT Central 58.5 65.2 64.0 53.6 51.0 
			 Highways Agency 169.7 115.0 2.4 1.7 2.0 
			 Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency 3.4 4.8 1.9 18.0 18.4 
			 Driving Standards Agency 4.0 3.6 1.2 5.1 3.5 
			 Vehicle and Operator Services Agency 3.0 3.4 1.4 3.0 3.7 
			 Maritime and Coastguard Agency 0.8 1.2 1.0 1.3 1.5 
			 Vehicle Certification Agency 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 
			 Government Car and Despatch Agency (joined DfT from 2005-06) n/a n/a 0.1 0.1 0.1 
			 Total 239.5 193.3 72.1 82.9 80.3 
		
	
	Expenditure figures from 2005-06 exclude Central Department and Highways Agency spend on technical transport related consultancy. Expenditure by the Highways Agency on engineering consultancy is scored as outsourced procurement of specialist services.
	Lists have been placed in the Libraries of the House which show the supplier and (where possible) the value and the nature of the consultancy work recorded within the Department and its Agencies accounting systems as consultancy during the four financial years between 2004-05 and 2007-08. Similar data for 2003-04 are not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	The Business Units within the Department currently use separate accounting systems which record expenditure differently. The totals include a mixture of committed spend (i.e. orders raised) and actual spend incurred. The Professional Services Forum definition of consultancy has been applied since 2005-06 resulting in more accurate coding of expenditure.

Glasgow Airport: Noise

Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent representations he has received seeking reductions in levels of noise pollution from Glasgow Airport.

Jim Fitzpatrick: One representation was received from a Member of the Scottish Parliament in February about the flight path of aircraft travelling to and from Glasgow International Airport. The correspondence was passed to the Scottish Government for a response as aircraft noise is an executively devolved matter.

Government Car and Despatch Agency

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what  (a) the model and  (b) level was of tailpipe emissions of cars owned by the Government Car and Despatch Agency used by (i) members of the Cabinet and (ii) the Leader of the Opposition in the last year for which figures are available;
	(2)  what model of Government Car and Despatch Agency car is used by each member of the Cabinet.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Ministerial Code sets out what cars Cabinet Ministers may use. Currently, they are either a diesel powered Jaguar XJ saloon emitting 214 grams of carbon dioxide per kilometre (g/km), a Toyota Prius (104 g/km) or a Honda Civic Hybrid (109g/km). The Government Car and Despatch Agency does not provide an official car to the Leader of the Opposition.

London Underground: Renewable Energy

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make an assessment of the potential for using heat produced by the London Underground for power generation; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Fitzpatrick: It is an operational matter for London Underground, Transport for London and ultimately London's Mayor to determine and implement any strategy for the use of waste heat from the underground to produce electricity.

Lorries: Accidents

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many road traffic accidents resulting in fatalities or serious injury involved lorries on Britain's motorways in each of the last 10 years.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The numbers of reported personal injury road accidents on British motorways involving at least one heavy goods vehicle (HGV) and resulting in fatal or serious injury are given in the table:
	
		
			   Number 
			 1998 357 
			 1999 389 
			 2000 368 
			 2001 360 
			 2002 353 
			 2003 332 
			 2004 308 
			 2005 319 
			 2006 262 
			 2007 264

Lorries: Inspections

Elliot Morley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the number of non-UK registered heavy goods vehicles which have been stopped for inspection in each of the last three years.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The number of non-UK registered heavy goods vehicles inspected in each of the last three years is as follows:
	
		
			   Number of roadworthiness checks  Number of drivers' hours, tachograph and weight checks 
			 2005-06 14,839 17,538 
			 2006-07 31,010 27,017 
			 2007-08 31,247 30,421 
			  Note:  Some of the roadworthiness checks and drivers' hours and tachograph checks may have taken place at the same time.

Lorries: Registration

Elliot Morley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many registered heavy goods vehicles there were in the UK in each of the last three years.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The total of licensed heavy goods vehicles in the UK in each of the last three years is:
	
		
			  Calendar year  HGVs licensed 
			 2005 456,446 
			 2006 471,042 
			 2007 472,096

Motor Vehicles: Navigation

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will place in the Library a copy of the regulations governing dynamic in-vehicle information systems.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The "Road Traffic (Driver Licensing and information Systems) Act 1989", and Statutory Instrument 865/1990, the "Driver Information Systems (Exemption) Order", are already in the House of Commons Library.

Motorways: Road Signs and Markings

Robert Goodwill: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the accuracy of information conveyed to drivers by means of variable message signs on the motorway network.

Paul Clark: The Highways Agency currently assesses the accuracy of VMS messages in two key ways; customer satisfaction and performance measurement.
	The latest customer satisfaction surveys for the period April to September this year tell us that 40 per cent. believe the messages are more accurate than they were a year ago, while only 1 per cent. think they are less accurate. 54 per cent. responded that they were about the same level of accuracy, and 5 per cent. replied that they had not seen a VMS in the period covered.
	The Highways Agency measures the accuracy of the setting of VMS. Supervisory staff working in the Highways Agency's control centres assess the accuracy and timeliness of signs in real time and monthly performance indicators are produced. The following are the performance indicators used:
	To set 90 per cent. of signs and signals within three minutes of a traffic officer or police request being received, and change or remove 90 per cent. of signs and signals within two minutes of a traffic officer or police request being received. The current performance indicator score for year to date is 94 per cent.
	Achieve 90 per cent. quality compliance for sign and signal setting. The current performance indicator score for year to date is 95 per cent.

Railways: Fares

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the average rise in regulated rail fares from Hemel Hempstead to London was in each year since 1997.

Paul Clark: The Department for Transport does not hold this information. The Office of Rail Regulation publishes "National Rail Trends" on a quarterly basis, available at:
	www.rail-reg.gov.uk.
	This document contains a variety of industry information and statistics including a national fares index.

Railways: Fares

Clive Efford: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will postpone fare increases on Southeastern rail services until the ticketing machines are made compatible with Oyster pay-as-you-go cards; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Clark: Negotiations between the train operators and Transport for London to enable the use of Oyster pay-as-you-go as a payment method for National Rail fares across the London Travelcard area are continuing. There is no association between Oyster pay-as-you-go introduction and fares regulation.

Railways: Kent

Clive Efford: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress has been made on delivering 12-car trains on rail lines in North Kent.

Paul Clark: Discussions are continuing between London and Southeastern Railway and Network Rail over the timetable for the introduction of longer trains on the rail lines in North Kent. We hope to make a further announcement during spring 2009.

Railways: Standards

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  how many and what percentage of scheduled trains based on the  (a) published timetable and  (b) plan of the day arrived late in each month of (i) 2005, (ii) 2006, (iii) 2007 and (iv) 2008, broken down by train operating company;
	(2)  how many and what percentage of scheduled trains based on the  (a) published timetable and  (b) plan of the day were cancelled in each month of (i) 2005, (ii) 2006, (iii) 2007 and (iv) 2008, broken down by train operating company.

Paul Clark: Train performance data for the rail network is collected and held by Network Rail, and available from the Chief Executive at the following address:
	Iain Coucher
	Chief Executive
	Network Rail
	Kings Place
	90 York Way
	London
	N1 9AG

Railways: Tickets

Clive Efford: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to ensure that Southeastern carries out efficient ticketing enforcement on its rail services; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Clark: All train operators are required to implement a structured revenue protection strategy as part of all franchise agreements entered into since 2004. The summer 2007 Rail White Paper included an undertaking to review station gating as the industry's reported figure of 5 per cent. ticketless travel is believed to be an underestimate.

River Thames: Bridges

Clive Efford: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the status of the proposed Silvertown Link Thames river crossing is; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Fitzpatrick: This scheme has been proposed by the Mayor of London as one possible option for a new east London river crossing. As such it is a matter for the Mayor and Transport for London and questions about its status should be directed to them.

Roads: Accidents

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many  (a) fatalities,  (b) serious injuries and  (c) other outcomes there were in road traffic accidents in (i) Hemel Hempstead and (ii) Hertfordshire reported to his Department in each month in each of the last five years.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The numbers of casualties in reported personal injury road accidents in (i) the parliamentary constituency of Hemel Hempstead and (ii) the local authority of Hertfordshire in each month of the last five years are given in the following tables.
	
		
			  Hemel Hempstead( 1) 
			  Number of casualties 
			  Casualty s everity  Jan  Feb  Mar  Apr  May  Jun  Jul  Aug  Sept  Oct  Nov  Dec  Total 
			  2003  
			 Killed 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Serious 6 5 6 5 3 5 6 5 4 5 8 9 67 
			 Slight 45 41 28 34 39 46 38 34 29 44 38 84 500 
			 Total 51 46 34 39 42 51 44 ' 39 33 49 46 93 567 
			   
			  2004  
			 Killed 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 
			 Serious 6 5 8 6 15 1 5 4 5 5 5 4 69 
			 Slight 37 19 53 45 29 37 32 45 33 76 40 56 502 
			 Total 43 24 62 51 44 38 37 49 38 81 45 60 572 
			   
			  2005  
			 Killed 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 2 
			 Serious 2 1 3 2 5 3 3 2 9 9 9 0 48 
			 Slight 45 37 48 44 35 41 40 37 29 27 49 55 487 
			 Total 47 38 51 46 40 44 43 40 38 37 58 55 537 
			   
			  2006  
			 Killed 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 3 
			 Serious 2 1 1 7 6 3 3 7 2 2 5 2 41 
			 Slight 30 34 33 33 37 47 42 36 30 44 41 29 436 
			 Total 32 36 34 40 44 50 45 44 32 46 46 31 480 
			   
			  2007  
			 Killed 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 
			 Serious 7 1 4 2 3 5 4 1 3 5 1 2 38 
			 Slight 35 26 42 36 34 33 35 22 40 40 30 28 401 
			 Total 42 27 48 38 37 38 39 23 43 45 31 30 441 
			 (1) Based on 2004 Parliamentary boundaries 
		
	
	
		
			  Hertfordshire 
			  Number of casualties 
			  Casualty severity  Jan  Feb  Mar  Apr  May  Jun  Jul  Aug  Sept  Oct  Nov  Dec  Total 
			  2003  
			 Killed 4 3 1 3 2 3 4 3 4 2 3 6 38 
			 Serious 55 43 66 43 45 51 60 54 55 52 71 55 650 
			 Slight 472 370 381 411 455 428 476 424 485 541 531 540 5,514 
			 Total 531 416 448 457 502 482 540 481 544 595 605 601 6,202 
			   
			  2004  
			 Killed 2 5 3 7 3 4 9 4 3 4 1 6 51 
			 Serious 55 47 50 49 64 40 51 68 54 50 56 56 640 
			 Slight 493 330 428 424 418 461 477 430 422 549 506 545 5,483 
			 Total 550 382 481 480 485 505 537 502 479 603 563 607 6,174 
			   
			  2005  
			 Killed 8 3 6 4 4 7 2 3 5 2 10 5 59 
			 Serious 42 30 42 32 56 52 40 40 44 59 44 40 521 
			 Slight 462 322 407 433 436 398 397 428 434 414 514 550 5,195 
			 Total 512 355 455 469 496 457 439 471 483 475 568 595 5,775 
			   
			  2006  
			 Killed 2 1 2 1 3 3 2 8 4 7 5 5 43 
			 Serious 32 28 26 29 42 40 44 41 38 45 53 38 456 
			 Slight 386 410 394 336 423 387 395 362 329 456 436 390 4,704 
			 Total 420 439 422 366 468 430 441 411 371 508 494 433 5,203 
			   
			  2007  
			 Killed 12 4 4 3 4 4 4 4 1 3 4 3 50 
			 Serious 58 28 41 30 38 54 39 34 41 49 43 45 500 
			 Slight 368 329 400 331 418 383 353 382 409 434 351 420 4,578 
			 Total 438 361 445 364 460 441 396 420 451 486 398 468 5,128 
		
	
	—continued

Roads: Accidents

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many  (a) minor and  (b) serious road traffic accidents occurred on the A13 between the A405 and the M25 in each of the last 10 years.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The number of serious and slight personal injury road accidents reported to the police on the A13 between the A406 and the M25 in each of the last 10 years is given in the table.
	
		
			  Accidents occurring on A13 between A406 and M25: 1998-2007 
			   Serious  Slight 
			 1998 33 188 
			 1999 12 100 
			 2000 27 153 
			 2001 22 119 
			 2002 17 107 
			 2003 30 91 
			 2004 28 122 
			 2005 12 92 
			 2006 16 103 
			 2007 10 97

Roads: Accidents

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many people have been  (a) killed and  (b) seriously injured on (i) the A127 and (ii) A13 between the M25 and Southend in (A) each of the last five years and (B) 2008 to date.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The numbers of casualties in reported personal injury road accidents on (i) the A127 and (ii) the A13 between the M25 and Southend in each of the last five years are given in the following tables.
	
		
			  (i)  Number of killed or seriously injured casualties on the A127 :  2003-07 
			   Severity of Casualty 
			   Killed  Seriously injured 
			 2003 11 51 
			 2004 6 35 
			 2005 0 31 
			 2006 6 43 
			 2007 2 23 
		
	
	
		
			  (ii) Number of killed or seriously injured casualties on the A13 between its junction with the M25 and the junction with the A127 in Southend town centre: 2003-07 
			   Severity of casualty 
			   Killed  Seriously injured 
			 2003 7 49 
			 2004 4 36 
			 2005 1 41 
			 2006 3 38 
			 2007 4 34 
		
	
	The data for year 2008 will be available in June 2009.

Roads: Accidents

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many reported deaths there were in  (a) North Wiltshire,  (b) Wiltshire and  (c) England as a result of traffic accidents in each of the last five years.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The numbers of fatal casualties resulting from reported personal injury road accidents for the last five years in  (a) North Wiltshire  (b) Wiltshire and  (c) England are given in the table:
	
		
			  Number of fatal casualties in North Wiltshire, Wiltshire and England in each of the last five years 
			   Wiltshire  North Wiltshire  England 
			 2003 49 12 3,004 
			 2004 60 12 2,714 
			 2005 38 8 2,735 
			 2006 41 6 2,695 
			 2007 62 10 2,502

Roads: Accidents

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the proportion of road fatalities caused by vehicle equipment malfunction and failure.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The contributory factors data collected by the police officer at the scene of the incident show that "vehicle defects" contributed to 3 per cent. of fatal collisions in 2007. The contributory factors article is published in 'Road Casualties Great Britain: annual report 2007'. Copies of the report have been deposited in the Libraries of the House. The report is also available on the Department for Transport website at the following web address:
	http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/statistics/datatablespublications/accidents/casualtiesgbar/roadcasualtiesgreatbritain20071.

Roads: Peterborough

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many traffic movements there were on the A47 between the Nene Parkway and Paston Parkway in Peterborough in each month since May 2005.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The annual average daily flow (AADF) for the A47 between Nene Parkway (A1260) and Paston Parkway (A15) was 37,100 vehicles in 2005, 40,200 in 2006 and 38,500 in 2007. These figures give an estimate of the number of vehicles travelling along the road on an average day of the year.
	The Department does not hold reliable monthly data on the traffic flows for these sections of road.
	AADF data for 1999 to 2007 are available from our website
	www.dft.gov.uk/matrix/.

Rolling Stock: Procurement

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many additional railway carriages he expects to be provided on  (a) First Trans-Pennine Services and  (b) Northern Rail as a result of his Department's high level output specification initiative.

Paul Clark: The Department for Transport Rolling Stock Plan, published 30 January 2008, provides an indicative figure for both franchises of 42 additional vehicles for First TransPennine Services and 182 additional vehicles for Northern Rail.

Southeastern: Manpower

Clive Efford: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many enforcement staff were employed by Southeastern at the time that they took over the integrated Kent franchise; how many they currently employ; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Clark: It is assumed that the question refers to Rail Enforcement Officers. At the start of the Integrated Kent Franchise on 1 April 2006, 29 Rail Enforcement Officers were employed. Currently, the number of Rail Enforcement Officers employed by Southeastern (as of 11 December 2008) is 55.

Vehicle Number Plates

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to bring forward legislative proposals to remove the offence of displaying a UK national flag on number plates; if he will introduce an amnesty for drivers with such number plates in the interim; whether such display will affect the conduct and results of MOT tests in the interim; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Fitzpatrick: We intend to make an announcement shortly on the way forward. The display of national flags does not affect an MOT test result. Enforcement is a matter for the police, and the evidence we have is that they are using their discretion in this matter.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

Electronic Government

Francis Maude: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what assessment has been made of consumer confidence in the security of the Government Gateway.

Jonathan R Shaw: I have been asked to reply.
	There has been no testing of consumer confidence of the security of the Government Gateway. However the Government Gateway produces monthly management information on usage to participating public sector organisations and at least three times a year undergoes an independent IT health check covering application vulnerability and infrastructure security

WORK AND PENSIONS

Access to Work Programme

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the  (a) budget for and  (b) expenditure on Access to Work was in each of the last five years.

Jonathan R Shaw: The available information on the budget and actual spend for Access to Work programme in each of the last five years is provided in the following table.
	
		
			  £ million 
			   Budget  Actual spend 
			 2003-04 n/a 55.8 
			 2004-05 n/a 59.6 
			 2005-06 60.1 59.7 
			 2006-07 63.8 59.8 
			 2007-08 64 75.8 
			 (1) Not available.   Notes:  1. Figures exclude Jobcentre Plus admin costs as these cannot be separately identified at a programme level.  2. Budget data are only available for the past three financial years and represent the allocation made at the beginning of the year for internal control purposes. Variances arise when the volumes vary from those anticipated at the planning stage.   Source:  Actual spend data are from respective annual audited accounts.

Carer's Allowance: Overpayments

Daniel Rogerson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps are taken to recover overpayments of carer's allowance when the person to whom the claim relates dies and eligibility for the allowance ceases.

Kitty Ussher: holding answer 11 December 2008
	We recognise that the death of someone being cared for is a difficult time for a carer and that they may need time to sort out the deceased's affairs and to make adjustments in their own life. For this reason entitlement to carer's allowance can continue for up to eight weeks after the disabled person dies.
	Overpayments will therefore normally arise only if the Department had not been advised of the death in that period.
	Should such an overpayment arise, normal recovery procedures would apply and repayment would be sought from the carer, with repayment rates set to avoid undue hardship.

Departmental Data Protection

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether each data set for which his Department is responsible is held on  (a) live system environments,  (b) backup tapes and  (c) manual records; at what other locations data are stored; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: The data sets required to support the services we deliver to customers are stored within the database management systems that support the different applications that deliver the Department's business. The majority of these systems are hosted across two physical data centres and there are extensive backup and recovery regimes and subsystems in place to meet business continuity needs. These backup subsystems use both tape and disc storage.
	This comprehensive approach to backup does not require manual records to be maintained within the data centres.

Departmental Disabled Staff

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what conclusions his Department has reached in fulfilment of its duty under section 3.111 of the statutory code of practice of the disability equality duty.

Jonathan R Shaw: The conclusions reached by DWP in fulfilment of the duty can be found in the 'Department for Work and Pensions Race, Disability and Gender Equality Schemes 2008-2011' which includes an update on the actions that were published in its disability equality scheme in December 2006 and its annual progress report in November 2007. To align with its annual planning and reporting cycles the Department published its revised schemes and progress reports on 29 May 2008, on both its internal and external websites, and we will continue to publish to this timetable in the future.
	In addition, the Department published its report on progress towards disability equality made by public authorities in policy sectors led by the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on 1 December 2008. The actions identified in that report will be incorporated into the next progress reports scheduled for May 2009.

Departmental Higher Education

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many staff in his Department undertook courses funded by the Department for  (a) undergraduate degrees,  (b) postgraduate degrees or diplomas,  (c) Masters degrees,  (d) MBA degrees and  (e) PhD degrees in the last 12 months, broken down by pay band.

Jonathan R Shaw: This information is not recorded centrally and to obtain this information would be at a disproportionate cost.

Departmental ICT

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions which third parties are responsible for  (a) managing and  (b) hosting his Department's IT (i) systems and (ii) infrastructure.

Jonathan R Shaw: Under existing contractual arrangements, EDS provides the Department with IT desk top service integration and management applications maintenance and support and hosting services. BT provides network and telephony services. In addition, the Department sources other IT services from a number of other suppliers.

Departmental ICT

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what policies and procedures his Department has relating to  (a) change management,  (b) problem management,  (c) incident management,  (d) release management and  (e) configuration management in respect of departmental computer systems.

Jonathan R Shaw: The Department works with its suppliers to apply comprehensive policies and procedures governing these functions, consistent with the standards established by Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL). ITIL is the industry standard discipline for managing IT operations.
	The Department's Corporate Information Technology Directorate provides assurance for the application of these policies and procedures.

Departmental ICT

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans his Department has to replace the computer system infrastructure of  (a) his Department and  (b) its agencies; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: The Department's plans for renewing its computer infrastructure have been pursued since 2005 through its IT Transformation Programme, which has equipped the Department with more resilient and sustainable IT delivering services at lower cost.
	Realigned contracts with its IT Service providers, EDS and BT, have delivered data centre rationalisation, server modernisation, new desktops and encrypted laptops for staff and an advanced high capacity data network combining voice and data transmission.
	Under these contractual arrangements and building on the transformation, a new data centre will be provided and call centre infrastructure will be replaced.
	The Department has announced its intention to hold a series of competitions to replace these existing contracts between 2010-11 and 2015. This will provide a basis for continued modernisation of its computer infrastructure aligned to its strategic IT vision.

Departmental ICT

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps his Department takes to register  (a) risks and  (b) other issues relating to the operation of departmental computer systems.

Jonathan R Shaw: The Department has an established process for managing risk and issues relating to its computer systems implemented at various functional levels. This risk management framework incorporates internal and external good practice from both the public and private sectors and is fully consistent with the HMT guidelines. The Risk Management Framework formally describes the Department's approach to risk management and is based on a set of core elements which are mandated across all business units, programmes and projects.

Departmental ICT

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what business continuity and disaster recovery plans his Department maintains in relation to its computer systems.

Jonathan R Shaw: The Department has Business Continuity Plans, which are flexible and proven, to ensure that its customers receive their payments on time. Every departmental business area has its own Business Continuity Plans in place to support this top priority and these plans are comprehensively rehearsed at regular intervals. These plans are supported by resilience built into the Department's IT systems design and alternative clerical process to deliver key services to customers where practicable.

Departmental ICT

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent surveys  (a) his Department and  (b) its agencies have undertaken of satisfaction levels of users of departmental computer systems.

Jonathan R Shaw: The DWP Staff Survey, conducted annually, contains a question on whether IT provides effective support for the job staff do. In addition, the annual IT & Telephony Satisfaction Survey, of a sample of staff across the Department, asks over 100 questions on a range of IT systems, services and equipment. The answers are used to identify priorities for improvement.

Departmental ICT

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans his Department has for future changes to its computer systems which store  (a) financial and  (b) non-financial data.

Jonathan R Shaw: The Department does not categorise changes to computer systems according to data distinctions: changes often affect the storage of both financial and non-financial data and its deployment.
	The Department's computer systems are constantly reviewed to support policy and business modernisation and to improve efficiency and value for money. The Department currently has a schedule of over 1,200 IT system changes in the next 12 months. Many of these will arise from its current portfolio of about 200 modernisation projects.
	19 of these are major business change programmes supported by IT. They are listed in appendix 1 of the report of the National Audit Office to the Work and Pensions Committee (Department for Work and Pensions: Information Technology Programmes), a copy of which is in the Library. They include programmes which will improve the deployment of financial information, for example the Central Payment System, and programmes to deliver efficient and effective services to the Department's customers, for example the Department for Work and Pensions Change Programme.

Departmental ICT

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will place in the Library a copy of each of his Department's  (a) initiation documents,  (b) business cases,  (c) cost/benefit analyses,  (d) communication plans,  (e) project plans,  (f) risks and issues logs,  (g) technical and functional specifications,  (h) user acceptance criteria and  (i) stakeholder analyses for planned IT projects.

Jonathan R Shaw: The information is not available in the format requested. It is available only at disproportionate cost.
	The Department for Work and Pensions currently has a portfolio of over 200 projects with varying degrees of IT input. Project documentation is constantly updated and often contains both commercially sensitive and other information which may be prejudicial to the security of the Department's IT systems. The additional cost of removing such sensitive information to permit publication would be prohibitive. The Department regularly publishes information on major current modernisation projects in its annual plans and reports which are held in the Library of the House.

Departmental Internet

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions with reference to the answer of 4 November 2008,  Official Report, columns 336-37W, on Government departments: information and communications technology, which IP addresses are used by  (a) his Department and  (b) computers in the offices of its (i) Ministers, (ii) communications officials and (iii) special advisers.

Jonathan R Shaw: To help defend against electronic attack, it is standard good information security practice for corporate IT systems, not to publish internal IP addresses. When accessing internet websites, the IP addresses of all of the computers on The Department for Work and Pensions' internal office IT system are hidden behind the following IP addresses which are publicly available—195.92.40.49 and 62.25.106.209. These IP addresses are shared with other Government Departments that use the Government secure intranet.

Departmental Manpower

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will place in the Library a copy of the organisational chart for his Department.

Jonathan R Shaw: A copy of the DWP senior management organisation chart has been placed in the Library.

Departmental Official Hospitality

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what records his Department maintains of its expenditure on  (a) official hospitality and  (b) alcohol for official hospitality.

Jonathan R Shaw: The Department for Work and Pensions maintains a separate account code within its ledgers in order to capture departmental expenditure on official hospitality.
	The Department does not currently keep a separate record of expenditure on alcohol for hospitality purposes. Such expenditure is included within the hospitality account referred to above.

Departmental Official Hospitality

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much his Department spent on Ministerial hospitality in  (a) 2004-05,  (b) 2005-06,  (c) 2006-07 and  (d) 2007-08, expressed in current prices.

Jonathan R Shaw: The Department for Work and Pensions does not have a separate or identifiable account code in departmental finance records to distinguish ministerial hospitality from other forms of hospitality. To try and identify any such expenditure would incur a disproportionate amount of time and cost.
	All spending on official entertainment is made in accordance with the principles set out in "Managing Public Money".

Departmental Public Opinion

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions with reference to the answer to the hon. Member for Taunton of 26 November 2008,  Official Report, columns 1966-67W, on departmental public opinion, whether the outturn costs of the focus groups were within budget.

Jonathan R Shaw: As referred to in my previous answer to the hon. Member for Taunton (Mr. Browne), 26 November 2008,  Official Report, columns 1966-67W, the costs of focus groups are often included within campaign development and evaluation costs. Specific budget allocations and costs for focus group elements are therefore not held separately.

Departmental Public Opinion

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions with reference to the answer to the hon. Member for Taunton of 26 November 2008,  Official Report, columns 1966-67W, on departmental public opinion, what plans his Department has to hold further focus groups.

Jonathan R Shaw: As referred to in my previous answer to the hon. Member for Taunton (Mr. Browne), 26 November 2008,  Official Report, columns 1966-67W, focus group research is an integral part of the development of communications campaigns, as well as being used to inform some of the Department's larger evaluation exercises. The Department will undoubtedly use focus group research in the future but detailed plans are not yet established

Departmental Work Experience

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many individuals have worked in his Department on (a) paid and  (b) unpaid work experience or internships in each of the last three years; on average how many hours a week were worked by such people in each year; what types of work each was involved in; what proportion were in full-time education; what proportion did not complete their set period of work experience; and how much those who received remuneration were paid on average per week in each year.

Jonathan R Shaw: This information is not recorded centrally and could be provided only at a disproportionate cost.

Disability Living Allowance

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what information his Department collects on the administration of  (a) disability living and  (b) attendance allowance;
	(2)  what information his Department routinely collects on the administration of  (a) disability living allowance and  (b) attendance allowance.

Jonathan R Shaw: The Pension, Disability and Carers Service collects data for disability living allowance and attendance allowance that provides management information on customers (such as age, location, types of disability, benefits received), characteristics of claims, composition and levels of workloads, speed and accuracy of processing, telephone and other contact statistics, customer satisfaction, complaints and other inquiries, costs and related physical resource information.
	This information is typically used to assess performance against published and other internal targets and benchmarks, including to identify and monitor variations in performance between operational units and in some cases teams.

Disability Living Allowance: Cancer

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will review the qualifying periods for the disability living allowance and attendance allowance for cancer patients.

Jonathan R Shaw: We have no plans to review the qualifying periods for disability living allowance and attendance allowance. The qualifying periods help establish that disability and the resulting care, supervision or mobility needs are of a long standing nature, and ensure that the benefit goes only to those for whom it is intended.
	Disabled people do not always have to wait until the qualifying period is over before they become entitled to benefit. The decision maker will always look at whether, and for how long, the person has required the necessary level of help or has had the necessary degree of walking difficulties before the date of their claim, and consider whether some or all of the qualifying period has already been completed. In addition, special rules can apply to people who are terminally ill and who would not reasonably be expected to live beyond six months. These people do not have to satisfy the qualifying period and are automatically awarded the higher rate of attendance allowance or the highest rate care component of disability living allowance without having to meet the normal conditions of entitlement.

Electronic Government: Consultants

Khalid Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions which consultants are employed to work on Direct.gov; and what the purpose is of the work they are undertaking.

Jonathan R Shaw: holding answer 10 December 2008
	Directgov has traditionally employed contract staff to fill short-term posts and those posts requiring specialist skills which cannot be recruited from within the civil service. This policy will continue as there is always likely to be a small number of contractors employed. All contractor posts are subject to competition and in order to ensure value for money, all new posts are to be market tested by carrying out a recruitment exercise to ascertain whether suitable resources can be recruited as permanent staff. There is likely to remain a requirement for critical posts to be staffed by a contractor on an interim basis while the recruitment exercise is being carried out.
	The contractors currently employed by Directgov are listed in the following table. It should be noted that we are including temporary staff, interims and contractors.
	
		
			  Name of supplier  Contractors name  Service line  Contract 
			 Sammons Jonathan Tagg Communications Team Administration Officer 
			 ReThink (S-Cat provider for this contract is SFW Ltd) Tayo Oshinow Editorial and Service Team Administration Officer 
			 Sammons Alexandria Jackson Proposition and Strategy Team Administration Officer 
			 Cadence Partnership LLP Gita Singham-Willis Business and Operations Team Benefits Realisation 
			 Molten-Group Amma Sarfo Business and Operations Team Benefits Realisation Support 
			 Stimulation Limited Andrew Cooper Proposition and Strategy Team Brand Manager 
			 Blue Pig Consultancy David Allen Business and Operations Team Business Analyst and Technology Assurance Lead 
			 ReThink (S-Cat provider for this contract is SFW Ltd) Ian Maddison Business and Operations Team Business Analyst (Web Specialist) 
			 ReThink (S-Cat provider for this contract is SFW Ltd) Thandi Barrett Business and Operations Team Business Analyst (Web Specialist) 
			 ReThink (S-Cat provider for this contract is SFW Ltd) Irene Conlon Business and Operations Team Business Analyst (Website Specialist) 
			 ReThink (S-Cat provider for this contract is SFW Ltd) Sachin Joshi Business and Operations Team Business Analyst (Website Specialist) 
			 Molten-Group Sarah Halverson Business and Operations Team Business Model Analyst 
			 Molten-Group Eric Valk Business and Operations Team Business Model Process Lead 
			 NESco (Catalist Terms) Martin Smith Business and Operations Team Business Performance and Data Analyst 
			 TBC TBC Business and Operations Team Business Process Analyst 
			 Sands Resources Natasha Williams Editorial and Service Team CMS Trainer and Support 
			 Sands Resources Neisha Khan Editorial and Service Team CMS Trainer and Support 
			 StopGap Barnaby Smith Proposition and Strategy Team Communications Research Manager 
			 ReThink (S-Cat provider for this contract is SFW Ltd) Steven Raith Editorial and Service Team Computer Technician 
			 Recruitmedia Joanne Lakeman Editorial and Service Team Content Editor 
			 Recruitmedia John Hughes Editorial and Service Team Content Editor 
			 Badenoch and Clark Tara Stockford Editorial and Service Team Content Editor 
			 N-Select Ltd Sarah Richards Editorial and Service Team Content Editor 
			 ReThink (S-Cat provider for this contract is SFW Ltd) Richard Watson Proposition and Strategy Team Design Manager 
			 Serco Consulting Anthony Clark Business and Operations Team Directgov Delivery Team 
			 Serco Consulting Simon Jewell Business and Operations Team Directgov Delivery Team 
			 Impact Executives Paul Collman Proposition and Strategy Team Enterprise Architect G7 
			 N-Select Ltd David Dodds Business and Operations Team Head of Contracts 
			 Specialist Computer Centres (SPRINT) Harry Weber Brown Communications Team Head of External Comms for Directgov 
			 Parity Resources Michelle Darraugh Communications Team Head of Government Communications 
			 Firemoon Limited Gill Elderfield Proposition and Strategy Team Head of Mobile/ TV Product 
			 Cadence Partnership LLP Sally Meecham Business and Operations Team Head of Transformational Government 
			 Cadence Partnership LLP Joyce McMicken Business and Operations Team HR Communications Specialist 
			 JFL Recruit Desela Aleligay Communications Team Information Comms Officer 
			 Recruitmedia Hina Patel Special Projects Insight Consultant 
			 Zebra People Jason Buck Special Projects Insight Consultant 
			 ReThink (S-Cat provider for this contract is SFW Ltd) Dhirendra Pattni Special Projects Interaction Designer 
			 Recruitmedia Karen Stanton Special Projects Interaction Designer 
			 Zebra People Kate Simpson Special Projects Interaction Designer 
			 Zebra People Prasanna Pavan Special Projects Interaction Designer 
			 TFPL David Mann Proposition and Strategy Team Interactive Channels Editor 
			 StopGap Stephanie Hubbard Communications Team Internal Communications Officer 
			 Cadence Partnership LLP Allan Fraser Business and Operations Team Portfolio Manager 
			 Procurement Resources Ltd David Ng Business and Operations Team Procurement and Contracts Manager 
			 ReThink (S-Cat provider for this contract is SFW Ltd) Kiran Atwal Business and Operations Team Procurement Support 
			 Zebra People Simon Nixon Special Projects Producer T Leader 
			 Sands Resources Bill Mitchell Business and Operations Team Project Manager (Web Convergence) 
			 LA International Peter Herlihy Business and Operations Team Project Manager (Web Convergence) 
			 Recruitmedia Roz Moreton Business and Operations Team Project Manager Marketing and Comms 
			 Serco Consulting Jeremy Cox Proposition and Strategy Team Project Programme Manager 
			 Badenoch and Clark Margaret Alaka Business and Operations Team Project Support (Web Convergence) 
			 ReThink (S-Cat provider for this contract is SFW Ltd) Rupert Laming Business and Operations Team Project Support (Web Convergence) 
			 Serco Consulting Paul Clarke Proposition and Strategy Team Proposition and Strategy Manager 
			 ReThink (S-Cat provider for this contract is SFW Ltd) Daniel O'Driscall Business and Operations Team Publishing Model Process Lead 
			 ReThink (S-Cat provider for this contract is SFW Ltd) Kaniza Khan Communications Team Relationship Manager 
			 Cadence Partnership LLP Rob Archer Business and Operations Team Role Engagement Definition Support 
			 N-Select Ltd Harry Lawanson Editorial and Service Team Senior Tester 
			 David Rennie Consulting David Rennie Proposition and Strategy Team Solutions Architect 
			 Recruitmedia Emma Martin Proposition and Strategy Team Strategic Development 
			 ReThink (S-Cat provider for this contract is SFW Ltd) Helen Lippell Editorial and Service Team Taxonomy and Metadata 
			 ReThink (S-Cat provider for this contract is SFW Ltd) Chris Ushewokunze Citizen Feasibility Account Technical Feasibility Lead 
			 LA International Stuart Tyler Citizen Feasibility Account Technical Analyst 
			 ReThink (S-Cat provider for this contract is SFW Ltd) Mohammed Adil Rehman Business and Operations Team Technical Design Architect 
			 Serco Interim Branch Etienne Piciocchi Citizen Feasibility Account Technical Project Lead 
			 N-Select Ltd Gill Stewart Business and Operations Team Technical Project Manager 
			 N-Select Ltd Selina Siddiqui Editorial and Service Team Test Manager 
			 NESco (Catalist Terms) Edward Savage Editorial and Service Team User Acceptability Testing Manager 
			 Recruitmedia Ibrahim Ahmed Special Projects Web Producer 
			 Zebra People Jonathan Marsh Special Projects Web Producer 
			 ReThink (S-Cat provider for this contract is SFW Ltd) Andrew Lamb Proposition and Strategy Team Web Product Manager 
			 ReThink (S-Cat provider for this contract is SFW Ltd) Charlotte Walsh Proposition and Strategy Team Web Product Manager

Hotels

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many nights he has spent in hotels on official business in the last 12 months.

Jonathan R Shaw: The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions has spent a total of seven nights in hotels in the last 12 months paid for by the Department.

Housing Benefit

Andrew Selous: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on how many occasions since the local housing allowance was introduced tenants have made legal or other representations to be classed as vulnerable in order to have their allowance paid direct to their landlord.

Kitty Ussher: holding answer 11 December 2008
	 This information is not available.

Housing Benefit: Kent

Howard Stoate: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many calendar days on average each local authority in Kent took to process  (a) new housing benefit claims and  (b) housing benefit claims submitted by existing recipients as a result of a change in circumstances in each of the last five years.

Kitty Ussher: The available information is in the following tables.
	
		
			  Average days to process new housing benefit claims: Kent local authorities 
			  Local authority  20003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08 
			 Ashford 49 44 36 33 27 
			 Canterbury 36 41 38 23 17 
			 Dartford 38 45 30 27 23 
			 Dover 56 41 63 42 23 
			 Gravesham 48 30 27 51 32 
			 Maidstone 26 25 18 13 11 
			 Medway 65 45 34 30 34 
			 Sevenoaks 64 38 50 32 34 
			 Shepway 47 63 66 52 24 
			 Swale 159 90 36 33 21 
			 Thanet 54 35 45 25 21 
			 Tonbridge and Malling 25 25 24 34 36 
			 Tunbridge Wells 23 25 25 25 19 
			  Notes:  1. Housing benefit claim processing times are measured in calendar days from the day a claim is received to the date a decision is made.  2. Housing benefit claim processing performance data is supplied to DWP by local authorities and is un-audited.   Source:  Local Authority Management Information returns to DWP. 
		
	
	
		
			  Average days to process housing benefit changes of circumstances: Kent local authorities 
			  Local authority  20003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08 
			 Ashford 13 9 11 10 5 
			 Canterbury 8 8 20 20 15 
			 Dartford 14 16 10 9 12 
			 Dover 25 12 22 16 8 
			 Gravesham 18 15 12 41 11 
			 Maidstone 11 7 5 4 4 
			 Medway 23 13 14 10 7 
			 Sevenoaks 25 10 18 7 5 
			 Shepway 12 24 43 29 15 
			 Swale 119 64 17 15 7 
			 Thanet 8 5 10 7 8 
			 Tonbridge and Malling 3 3 6 13 10 
			 Tunbridge Wells 7 6 5 4 5 
			  Notes:  1. Housing benefit change of circumstances processing times are measured in calendar days from the day a change is notified to the date a decision is made.  2. Housing benefit change of circumstances processing performance data is supplied to DWP by local authorities and is un-audited.   Source:  Local Authority Management Information returns to DWP.

Housing Benefit: North West

Mark Hunter: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many housing benefit claimants there are in  (a) the North West,  (b) Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council area and  (c) Cheadle constituency.

Kitty Ussher: holding answer 11 December 2008
	As at August 2007, the most recent available information, there were 518,600 housing benefit recipients in the north-west. At the same date there were 14,000 housing benefit recipients in Stockport metropolitan borough council area. Housing benefit information is not available at constituency level.
	 Notes
	1. Data refer to benefit units, which may be a single person or a couple.
	2. The figures have been rounded to the nearest hundred.
	3. Figures for any non-responding authorities have been estimated.
	 Source
	Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit Management Information System
	Quarterly 100 per cent. caseload stock-count taken in August 2007.

Income Support

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what modelling his Department has carried out of different economic and labour market conditions in assessing the potential effect of changes in eligibility for income support on  (a) lone parents and  (b) people claiming employment support allowance; and if he will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: I refer the hon. Member to the written answer I gave on 26 November 2008,  Official Report, column 1977W.

Jobcentre Plus

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the headquarters address is of each Jobcentre Plus district.

Tony McNulty: holding answer 10 December 2008
	The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the Acting Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus, Mel Groves. I have asked him to provide the hon. Member with the information requested.
	 Letter from Mel Groves:
	The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question requesting the headquarters addresses for each Jobcentre Plus district. This is something that falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Acting Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
	The addresses of all the district headquarters offices are enclosed.
	I hope this information is helpful.
	
		
			  East Midlands 
			  District  Address 
			 Lincolnshire and Rutland District Office Crown House, Danesgate, Lincoln LN2 1LJ 
			   
			 Nottinghamshire District Office 25 Station Street, Nottingham NG2 3BZ 
			   
			 Leicestershire District Office 2A New Walk, Leicester LE1 6TF 
		
	
	
		
			  East of England 
			  District  Address 
			 Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire District Office Office of the District Manager, St Albans Jobcentre, Beauver House, 6 Bricket Road, St Albans, Hertfordshire AL1 3JU 
			   
			 Cambridgeshire and Suffolk District Office Office of the District Manager, Ipswich Jobcentre, St Felix House, Silent Street, Ipswich IP1 1TF 
			   
			 Essex District Office Office of the District Manager, Chelmsford Jobcentre, Government Buildings, Beeches Road, Chelmsford, Essex CM12RT 
			   
			 Norfolk District Office Office of the District Manager, Norwich Jobcentre, Kiln House, Pottergate, Norwich NR2 1BZ 
		
	
	
		
			  London 
			  District  Address 
			 Central London District Office 1st floor, 26-46 Lisson Grove, Marylebone, London NW1 6TZ 
			   
			 City and East District Office 60 Commercial Road, Stepney, London E1 1LP 
			   
			 Lambeth Southwark and Wandsworth District Office 206-210 Kennington Park Road, London SE11 4DE 
			   
			 North and North East London District Office Crown House, 30 Main Road, Romford, Essex RM1 3HH 
			   
			 West London District Office 2nd floor, Glen House, 22 Glenthorne Road, London W6 0PP 
			   
			 South London District Office Unicorn House, 2nd Floor, 28 Elmfield Road, Bromley, Kent BR1 1NX 
		
	
	
		
			  North East 
			  District  Address 
			 South Tyne and Wear Valley District Office Hallgarth Street, Durham DH1 3BP 
			   
			 Northumbria District Office Cobalt House, Silver Fox Way, Cobalt Business Park, Newcastle upon Tyne NE27 0QJ 
			   
			 Tees Valley District Office 3rd Floor, Daryl House, Bridge Road, Stockton on Tees, Cleveland TS18 3BW 
		
	
	
		
			  North West 
			  District  Address 
			 Warrington District Office Nolan House, 10 Mersey Street, Warrington WA1 2BL 
			   
			 Cumbria and Lancs District Office Orchard House, Penny Street, Blackburn BB1 6HA 
			   
			 Greater Manchester Central District Office Ontario House, 1st Floor, 2 Furness Quay, Salford M50 3XZ 
			   
			 Greater Manchester East and West District Office Othen House, 7 Oldham Road, Middleton M24 1BE 
			   
			 Merseyside District Office 249 St Mary's Road, Liverpool L19 0NF 
		
	
	
		
			  Scotland 
			  District  Address 
			 Ayrshire, Dumfries, Galloway and Inverclyde District Office Wallacetoun House, John Street, Ayr KA8 0BX 
			   
			 Edinburgh, Lothian and Borders District Office Lyndean House, 199 Commercial Street, Edinburgh EH6 6QP 
			   
			 Forth Valley, Fife and Tayside District Office South Lodge, 2 St Ninians Road, Stirling FK8 2HF 
			   
			 Glasgow District Office Corunna House, 39 Cadogan Street, Glasgow G2 7SS 
			   
			 Highlands, Islands, Clyde Coast and Grampian District 83-97 Church Street, Inverness IV1 1ES 
			   
			 Lanarkshire and East Dunbartonshire District Office Flemington House, 600 Windmillhill Street, Motherwell ML1 0EH 
		
	
	
		
			  South East Region 
			  District  Address 
			 Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire District Office District Office, Adelphi House, Friar Street, Reading, Berkshire RG1 1HD 
			   
			 Hampshire and Isle of Wight District Office District Office, Wynnstay House, 121 High Street, Cosham, Hampshire P06 3DR 
			   
			 Kent District Office District Office, 2nd Floor, County Gate One, Staceys Street, Maidstone, Kent ME14 1ST 
			   
			 Surrey and Sussex District Office District Office, 2nd Floor, Ranger House, Walnut Tree Close, Guildford, Surrey GU1 4UL 
		
	
	
		
			  South West 
			  District  Address 
			 Devon and Cornwall District Office Ground Floor, Pynes Hill Court, Rydon Lane, Exeter EX2 5SP 
			   
			 Dorset and Somerset District Office Tamarisk House, 1 Cotlands Road, Bournemouth BH1 3BG 
			   
			 Gloucestershire, Wiltshire and Swindon District Office Cedar House, Spa Road, Gloucester GL1 1XL 
			   
			 West of England District Office 7th Floor, The Pithay, Bristol BS1 2NQ 
		
	
	
		
			  Wales 
			  District  Address 
			 North and Mid Wales District Office Wrexham Benefits Delivery Centre, Ty Maelor, 15-17 Grosvenor Road, Wrexham LL11 1BW 
			   
			 South East Wales District Office Block 4, Government Buildings, St Agnes Road, Gabalfa, Cardiff CF14 4US 
			 South West Wales District Office 1 Windsor Road, Neath SA11 1LY 
			   
			 South Wales Valleys District Office Oldway House, Broadway, Pontypridd CF91 1ZS 
		
	
	
		
			  West Midlands 
			  District  Address 
			 Birmingham and Solihull District Office 3rd Floor, 37 Sutton New Road, Erdington, Birmingham B23 6TD 
			   
			 Black Country District Office 1st Floor, Crown House, Birch Street, Wolverhampton WV1 4JZ 
			   
			 Coventry and Warwickshire District Office 4th Floor, Cofa Court, Cheylesmore, Coventry CV1 2HJ 
			   
			 Staffordshire District Office Greyfriars, Stafford ST16 2RY 
		
	
	
		
			  Yorkshire and the Humber 
			  District  Address 
			 North East Yorkshire and the Humber District Office Hull Britannia House (Hull West), 2 Ferensway, Hull HU2 8NF 
			   
			 South Yorkshire District Office 1 Hartshead Square ,Sheffield, South Yorkshire, S1 2FD 
			   
			 West Yorkshire District Office Southern House, 529 York Road, Leeds LS9 6TF

Jobcentre Plus

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will list the jobcentres located in each parliamentary constituency in each of the last three years.

Tony McNulty: holding answer 10 December 2008
	I refer the hon. Member to the written answer given to the hon. Member for Epsom and Ewell on 26 November 2008,  Official Report, columns 1991-93W.

Jobcentre Plus: Manpower

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many  (a) Jobcentre Plus staff and  (b) customer-facing Jobcentre Plus staff there were (i) in total, (ii) in each region and (iii) in each Jobcentre Plus district at the latest date for which information is available; and if he will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: I refer the hon. Member to the written answer I gave on 26 November 2008,  Official Report, columns 1982-86W.

Jobcentre Plus: Manpower

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people  (a) in each region and  (b) of each pay grade were employed by Jobcentre Plus in each year since 1 April 2002.

Tony McNulty: I refer the hon. Member to the written answer I gave on 26 November 2008,  Official Report, column 1980W.

Jobcentre Plus: Pay

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the average salary was for  (a) male and  (b) female Jobcentre Plus employees in each region in each year since 1 April 2002.

Tony McNulty: I refer the hon. Member to the written answer I gave on 26 November 2008,  Official Report, columns 1988-89W.

Jobcentre Plus: Pay

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the average salary of  (a) male and  (b) female personal advisers in Jobcentre Plus in each region was in each year since the post was created.

Tony McNulty: I refer the hon. Member to the written answer I gave on 26 November 2008,  Official Report, column 1988W.

Jobseeker's Allowance: North West

Mark Hunter: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many jobseeker's allowance claimants there are in  (a) the North West,  (b) Stockport metropolitan borough council area and (c) Cheadle constituency.

Tony McNulty: holding answer 11 December 2008
	In October 2008 there were 129,600 jobseeker's allowance claimants in the North West Government office region, 3,690 in Stockport local authority area and 620 in Cheadle parliamentary constituency.
	 Notes:
	1. Data are rounded to the nearest 10.
	2. Figures for Stockport local authority area and Cheadle parliamentary constituency are seasonally unadjusted and exclude clerical cases.
	3. Data are published at www.nomisweb.co.uk
	 Source: ONS.

Means Tested Benefits

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions which means-tested benefits have income disregard rules; what the level of income disregard is for each benefit; and whether he plans to increase these levels.

Tony McNulty: All of the income-related benefits for which the Department for Work and Pensions is responsible—income support, income-based jobseeker's allowance, pension credit, housing benefit, and council tax benefit—have income disregard rules.
	Comprehensive and detailed information concerning entitlement to these benefits and the associated income disregard rules is set out in The Law Relating to Social Security. The most easily accessible version is that available online at:
	www.dwp.gov.uk/advisers/docs/lawvols/bluevol/
	The amount of the various income disregards is kept under review as part of the annual uprating process.

Mesothelioma: Compensation

Paul Rowen: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  if, following the recent consultation in relation to the industrial injuries disablement benefit scheme, he will hold a further consultation on the new scheme relating to lump sum payments for those suffering from mesothelioma resulting from exposure to asbestos at work;
	(2)  what conclusions he has drawn from the responses to the recent consultation on the industrial injuries disablement benefit scheme with regard to benefits being awarded to those individuals who have been retired from work or moved on to new employment and who later suffer disability as a result of injury at work.

Kitty Ussher: holding answer 11 December 2008
	The consultation period ended on 22 October 2008. The consultation asked specifically how we might reform industrial injuries disablement benefit to provide better support to help people adjust to their new circumstances while maintaining the work focus of the modern welfare state, whether lump sum payments are a good way of meeting people's needs, whether they give people more choice and control and whether we could make more use of them.
	In the White Paper published on 10 December we have made it clear that while some respondents to the Green Paper consultation supported the principle of lump sum payments for industrial injuries disablement benefits customers, others commented that there was a need for on-going support for some people injured or made ill by work, particularly for those with serious progressive illnesses. We believe that there remains a strong case for continuing to provide particular support for people whose disability arises from work and we think the current industrial injuries disablement benefits scheme is the best way to do this.
	We have no plans for further consultation on the new scheme relating to lump sum payments for those suffering from mesothelioma resulting from exposure to asbestos at work.

New Deal 50 Plus

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many and what proportion of claimants on the New Deal 50 Plus programme entered sustainable employment in each  (a) region and  (b) Jobcentre Plus district immediately on leaving the programme in each month since May 2007; and if he will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 26 November 2008,  Official Report, column 2000W.

New Deal 50 Plus: Finance

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the cost of the New Deal 50 Plus programme in each  (a) region and  (b) Jobcentre Plus district in each year since its inception; and if he will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 26 November 2008,  Official Report, column 2000W.

New Deal for Disabled People

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  how many and what proportion of claimants on the New Deal for Disabled People programme in each  (a) region and  (b) Jobcentre Plus district entered sustainable employment immediately on leaving the programme in each month since March 2006;
	(2)  how many and what proportion of leavers from the New Deal for Disabled People programme in each  (a) region and  (b) Jobcentre Plus district entered immediately into sustainable employment on leaving the programme in each month since March 2006; and if he will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 26 November 2008,  Official Report, columns 2001-02W.

New Deal for Partners

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  how many and what proportion of claimants on the New Deal for Partners Programme in each  (a) region and  (b) Jobcentre Plus district entered immediately into sustainable employment on leaving the programme in each month since May 2007;
	(2)  how many and what proportion of leavers from the New Deal for Partners Programme in each  (a) region and  (b) Jobcentre Plus district entered immediately into sustainable employment on leaving the programme in each month since May 2007; and if he will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 26 November 2008,  Official Report, columns 2003-04W.

New Deal for Partners: Finance

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the cost of the New Deal for Partners Programme was in each  (a) region and  (b) Jobcentre Plus district in each year since it was established; and if he will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 26 November 2008,  Official Report, column 2004W.

Pathways to Work

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what data are held centrally on the performance of Pathways to Work providers; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: Data are currently collected centrally on the performance of Pathways to Work providers but as this is classified as 'Commercial in Confidence' this information is not published. A full evaluation of Provider Led Pathways to Work is due to commence in 2009 and these results will be published.

Pensioners: Tendring

Douglas Carswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps he is taking to assist pensioners in Tendring with meeting increases in the cost of living.

Rosie Winterton: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Montgomeryshire (Lembit pik) on 26 November 2008,  Official Report, column 2017W.

Post Office Card Account

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on what legal justification his Department based its decision to  (a) terminate the tender process for the Post Office card account and  (b) award the contract for the Post Office card account to the Post Office.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 11 December 2008
	The decision to end the tender process and to award a contract to the Post Office was taken in accordance with domestic and European Union law including the Public Contracts Regulations 2006 and EU Directive 2004/18/EC.

Poverty: Children

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  how many and what percentage of children in each age group in  (a) Bexleyheath and Crayford constituency and  (b) the London Borough of Bexley were living in absolute poverty in each year since 1997;
	(2)  what his Department's latest estimate is of the number of disabled children living below the poverty line in  (a) Bexleyheath and Crayford and  (b) the London Borough of Bexley in each of the last 10 years.

Kitty Ussher: The information requested is not available.
	Our child poverty statistics, published in the Households Below Average Income series, only allow a breakdown of the number of children in relative or absolute poverty at Government office region level or for inner or outer London. Information is therefore not available at parliamentary constituency or local authority level.

Social Fund

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many unprocessed applications for  (a) crisis loans,  (b) budgeting loans,  (c) community care grants,  (d) disability living allowance and  (e) severe disability living allowance there were at the end of each quarter of the last five years (i) in total and (ii) in each of the smallest geographical areas for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: I refer the hon. Member to the written answer I gave her on 26 November 2008,  Official Report , column 2028W.

Social Fund: Greater London

Jacqui Lait: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much was paid out in crisis loans  (a) in total and  (b) by each London Jobcentre in each year since 2005.

Kitty Ussher: Crisis loan gross expenditure in Great Britain since 2005 is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Crisis loan gross expenditure in Great Britain 
			million 
			 2005-06 86.4 
			 2006-07 97.9 
			 2007-08 121.2 
			  Note:  Figures include gross expenditure made after review.  Source: Annual reports by the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on the Social Fund. 
		
	
	Information on how much was paid out in crisis loans by each London Jobcentre since 2005 is not available.

Social Security Benefits

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the average processing time for  (a) jobseeker's allowance,  (b) housing benefit,  (c) crisis loan,  (d) community care grant and  (e) budgeting loan applications was in (i) each of the smallest geographical areas for which information is available and (ii) nationwide in each quarter of each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: I refer the hon. Member to the written answer I gave on 26 November 2008,  Official Report, column 2028W.

Social Security Benefits

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will review the tariff incomes schedule in means-tested benefits and pension credit following the recent reductions in base interest rates.

Tony McNulty: Although the capital limits that apply when calculating tariff income are kept under continual review they can be increased only when priorities and resources allow. The tariff income rules are not intended to represent any rate of return that could be obtained from investing capital. They provide a simple method of calculating the weekly contribution that people with capital in excess of 6,000 (or 10,000 if in a care home) are expected to make from those resources to help meet their normal living expenses. As there is no link with actual market rates, deductions remained unaltered throughout the period of rising interest rates, just as they have done more recently, when interest rates have been lower.

Social Security Benefits: EC Nationals

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many EU nationals who have returned from the UK to their own country are in receipt of benefits from the UK.

Kitty Ussher: The information requested is not available.

Social Security Benefits: Medical Examinations

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what system is used to operate the Work Capability Assessment; and what the unit processing time for each assessment is.

Jonathan R Shaw: The Medical Services Referral System is the IT system used to manage referrals for work capability assessments (WCAs), while the logic integrated medical assessment is a tool developed to support health care professionals carrying out WCAs. It uses rules derived from evidence-based medical protocols to guide healthcare professionals into making logical decisions.
	The WCA is made up of the limited capability for work, limited capability for work related activity (LCW/LCWRA) and the work focused health related assessment (WFHRA). The LCW/LCWRA assessment will take on average approximately 43 minutes to complete and the WFHRA, where required, will take on average 30 minutes. However, both are independent medical assessments and the time taken will vary according to individual customer needs.

Social Security Benefits: Mentally Ill

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps his Department is taking to increase awareness of the potential benefits of appointeeship among people with mental illness and their carers.

Jonathan R Shaw: Appointees only apply in a limited number of cases. The Department has a range of procedures in place to make customers and their carers aware of the provisions which allow the Secretary of State to appoint a person to act on behalf of another. For example, the employment support allowance information leaflet and claim form gives clear advice on appointeeship. Where claims are taken over the phone by the Pension Service systems are in place to identify those customers who have difficulty managing their own affairs. Local service staff would consider appointeeship at all visits where it appeared appropriate.

Social Security Benefits: Overseas Residence

Roger Gale: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the conclusions of his Department's consideration of the European Court of Justice's ruling on exportable disability benefits were; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: People who are already receiving disability benefitsdisability living allowance care component, attendance allowance or carer's allowancewhen they leave the UK to live in another European Economic Area state or in Switzerland can continue to receive the benefits, subject to certain conditions. The rules are set out on the Directgov website at:
	www.direct.gov.uk/en/DisabledPeople/FinancialSupport/lntroductiontofinancialsupport/DG_073387
	We are still considering the implications of the European Court's decision for people who are UK citizens but who live in another European Economic Area state or in Switzerland and who wish to claim a disability benefit. We will publish the criteria for awarding the benefits on the Directgov website as soon as the details have been finalised.

Social Security Benefits: Overseas Residence

Roger Gale: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many expatriate UK citizens have sought payment of exportable benefits following the ruling of the European Court of Justice on 18 December 2007.

Jonathan R Shaw: Since the date of the judgement we have received around 1,700 requests for payment of disability living allowance (care component), attendance allowance and carer's allowance from people who previously lived in the United Kingdom and are now living in another European Economic Area state or Switzerland.

Vocational Training: Redundancy

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much Jobcentre Plus's rapid response service has cost in each year since it was established.

Tony McNulty: I refer the hon. Member to the written answer I gave on 26 November 2008,  Official Report, columns 2041-42W.

Vocational Training: Redundancy

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many and what proportion of bids for services from the rapid response service were  (a) accepted and  (b) rejected in each region in each year since the service was established; what proportion of those rejected were rejected as a result of (i) funding constraint and (ii) employers and employees not meeting eligibility criteria in each such (A) region and (B) year; and if he will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: I refer the hon. Member to the written answer I gave on 26 November 2008,  Official Report, columns 2040-41W.

Voluntary Organisations

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions for which charities his Department has provided funding of more than 100,000 in each of the last three years; and how much was given to each.

Jonathan R Shaw: The Department has not funded any charities with more than 100,000 in each of the last three years.

Winter Fuel Payments: Greater Manchester

Mark Hunter: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of households in  (a) Cheadle constituency and  (b) Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council area which will be eligible for cold weather payments if the temperature falls below the level which triggers payment of the allowance in 2008-09.

Jonathan R Shaw: holding answer 11 December 2008
	 The estimated number of households eligible for cold weather payments is not available by local authority or parliamentary constituency, but only by weather station.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Azerbaijan: Trade Agreements

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will support Azerbaijan's application for admission to the World Trade Organisation.

Gareth Thomas: I have been asked to reply.
	The Government welcomes the progress that Azerbaijan is making towards meeting the conditions for joining the WTO. Following on from the bilateral negotiations between Azerbaijan and WTO members and the meeting of the Azerbaijan WTO accession working party in Geneva in the week beginning 8 December, the Government looks forward to further substantial progress to allow WTO accession to happen as soon as possible.

Detainees: Guantanamo Bay

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the US administration on behalf of Mr. Binyam Mohamed in respect of his detention in Guantanamo Bay.

Bill Rammell: Following the Government's request for Mr. Mohamed's release and return in August 2007 we have actively pursued his case with all levels of the US Government. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has discussed Mr. Mohamed's case with Secretary of State Rice on a number of occasions and senior officialsincluding our ambassador in Washingtonhave had regular discussions with their counterparts in the Departments of State and Defence and the National Security Council to take forward the request for his release and return.
	In addition to our ongoing efforts to secure Mr. Mohamed's release and return from Guantanamo Bay, these engagements have included representations on his welfare, his allegations of mistreatment, and strenuous efforts to ensure that his lawyers were able to access the information they sought via judicial review in the English courts through the US legal system. UK officials also conducted a welfare visit to Mr. Mohamed in Guantanamo Bay in July.

Russia: Politics and Government

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the outcome of the European Commission's assignment to examine the practical consequences to be drawn from Russia's unilateral decision to recognise the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, as set out in paragraph two of the 1 September Presidency Conclusions of the European Council (12594/08); and if he will make a statement.

David Miliband: The examination undertaken focused on areas of trade and visa policy.
	The Commission decided that there was no real risk of the EU unwittingly trading with South Ossetia and Abkhazia because the Government in Tblisi issues certificates of origin on goods which come to the EU and the Commission would continue to implement its policies rigorously.
	Member states were concerned that Russian passport holders in South Ossetia and Abkhazia currently enjoy better access to the EU than Georgian passport holders due to the EU-Russia visa facilitation and re-admission agreements. Accordingly, in response to the conflict and the 1 September European Council conclusions, the EU has increased the pace of negotiations on visa facilitation and re-admissions with Georgia. As the UK is not part of the Schengen agreement, the Government have given formal notification that they intend to participate in the adoption of this recommendation.

St Helena

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans the Government have to improve transport links between the United Kingdom and St Helena.

Michael Foster: I have been asked to reply.
	I refer the hon. Member to the written statement made on 8 December 2008,  Official Report, column 40WS.

TREASURY

Bank Services

Derek Twigg: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent assessment he has made of the effect of the bank recapitalisation scheme on levels of bank lending.

Ian Pearson: The Chancellor announced on 25 November that the Government would undertake a quick review of the arrangements for the Government's Credit Guarantee Scheme and assess whether they have any implications for the Crosby proposals and how it was working in practice, to maximise its impact on financial and wider economic stability while ensuring it did not crowd out market-based lending now or when better market conditions return.
	That review is now complete, and the Government are today announcing changes to the Scheme consistent with the objectives of the review.
	Taking account of international experience, and market developments, in particular the falls in bank risk premia, the Government are adjusting the formula that determines the fees paid by participating institutions for use of the Government guarantees. This will lead to those institutions paying a lower, but still commercial, fee for use of the Scheme.
	To enable participating institutions to manage better the transition from guaranteed to wholly unsupported funding the Government will also lengthen the scheme, from three to five years, ending in April 2014. Within that the three year maximum term of individual instruments will be retained, with some flexibility to roll them over as agreed with the Treasury. At present the Scheme guarantees borrowing in Sterling, Euros and US Dollars. In future participants will also be able to borrow in a wider range of currencies, further extending the investor base in UK banks and building societies.
	These changes will enable banks and building societies to borrow from a diverse range of investors, improve their financial positions, and therefore pave the way for them to lend to the economy.
	These proposals vary the Scheme as approved by the European Commission on 13 October 2008 and are subject to the Commission's approval under the state aid rules. The Government have informed the European Commission of these proposals and will bring forward changes to the rules of the Scheme to implement these proposals once they have obtained the Commission's approval.
	Full details of the changes are being published on the Treasury and the Debt Management Office's websites.

Banking: Iceland

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of the amount of money held by UK residents in Landsbanki Guernsey;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the amount of money held by UK residents in Kaupthing Singer and Friedlander Isle of Man.

Ian Pearson: The UK Government and the Financial Services Authority do not hold such information.
	Arrangements for depositors in banks in the Isle of Man and Guernsey are a matter for the Governments of the Isle of Man and Guernsey.

Child Care Vouchers

Mark Prisk: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the take-up by employers of the childcare voucher scheme in circumstances where the employee receives no more than statutory maternity pay; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: No official data are collected from employers regarding the offer of child care voucher schemes to employees. Child care voucher schemes are voluntary schemes and employers are not required to inform HMRC that they offer these arrangements to their employees. This applies irrespective of whether the employees are in receipt of normal pay or statutory maternity pay.
	Research undertaken in 2006 estimated that approximately 2.5 per cent. of employers offered child care voucher schemes or another form of employer supported child care to their employees. This research can be found at the following link:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/research/report23-final.pdf

Child Trust Fund

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he is taking to encourage parents to increase payments to child trust fund accounts.

Ian Pearson: The Child Trust Fund (CTF) provides every child with 250 at birth (500 for children in lower-income families) and again at the age of seven. The policy is designed to strengthen the saving habit of future generations, promote financial education and ensure that at age 18 every child will have access to a financial asset. Payments at age seven will begin in September 2009.
	HMRC runs a year round marketing campaign to raise awareness of CTF among parents and to help them engage with the product. This includes helping them to understand how they can make a contribution if they wish to do so. The CTF marketing campaign consists of targeted advertising on radio, in parenting press, online, promotional activity in ante-natal clinics and through working with third party organisations including the voluntary sector and commercial organisations.

Child Trust Fund

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what average payment has been made by parents into existing child trust fund accounts in  (a) Jarrow constituency,  (b) South Tyneside,  (c) the North East and  (d) England in each year since the scheme's inception;
	(2)  how many children were eligible to receive a child trust fund voucher in  (a) Jarrow constituency,  (b) South Tyneside,  (c) the North East and  (d) England in each year since the scheme's inception;
	(3)  how many child trust fund vouchers have been used by parents to open an account in  (a) Jarrow constituency,  (b) South Tyneside,  (c) the North East and  (d) England in each year since the scheme's inception;
	(4)  how many child trust fund vouchers have been issued in  (a) Jarrow constituency,  (b) South Tyneside,  (c) the North East and  (d) England in each year since the scheme's inception.

Ian Pearson: The Detailed Distributional Analysis, including details of average contributions made by parents and others was published on 6 November 2008. Geographically these data are only available at Government office region level and can be viewed on the HM Revenue and Customs' website at:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/child_trust_funds/dda-oct08.pdf.
	Constituency level data, including the number of vouchers issued and parental account opening figures, on Child Trust Fund accounts were published on 6 November 2008 and can be viewed on the HM Revenue and Customs' website at:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/ctf/cons-stats-oct08.pdf.

Clothing: Children

Bob Spink: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  if he will review his policy of VAT relief for children's clothes in view of the increase to 18 years of age of the requirement to participate in education or training; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what research he has reviewed on changes in the average size of clothes required by children up to the age of 16 in the last 30 years; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave him on 8 December 2008,  Official Report, column 15W, in which I explained why under VAT agreements with our European partners signed by successive Governments, it is not possible to extend the present zero-rating for children's clothing to clothing designed for children older than 13.
	The current size limits for zero-rating of young children's clothing were set in 2001, after a comprehensive review by a working group which included representatives from the retail and manufacturing sectors.
	As we cannot extend zero-rating to clothes for children older than 13, the average size of clothes for older children was not considered by the group.

Debt

Justine Greening: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate his Department has made of the number of individuals subject to debt management plans in each of the last four years.

Gareth Thomas: holding answer 10 December 2008
	I have been asked to reply.
	Because a debt management plan (DMP) is an informal agreement between a debtor and his creditors, there is no official record of their numbers. There is a multiplicity of both public and private sector providers in this area, but in view of the scarcity of information available, no attempt has been made to estimate numbers.
	The Consumer Credit Counselling Service, the biggest provider of DMPs in the third sector, set up 12,500 DMPs in the first six months of this year.

Departmental Higher Education

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many staff in his Department undertook courses funded by the Department for  (a) undergraduate degrees,  (b) postgraduate degrees or diplomas,  (c) Masters degrees,  (d) MBA degrees and  (e) PhD degrees in the last 12 months, broken down by pay band.

Angela Eagle: There were no undergraduate, postgraduate, MBA or PhD courses funded by the Department in the last 12 months. Six masters degrees were funded by the Department in this period, three each in pay ranges D and E.
	The information provided refers to centrally funded Economics courses. Individuals can also achieve sponsorship through their team budgets for specialist skills courses, e.g., Accountancy or CIPD or other degree or diploma courses for which we have no central records.

Departmental ICT

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  with reference to the answer of 5 November 2008,  Official Report, column 541W, on departmental ICT, how many staff in  (a) his Department and  (b) its agencies are or have been working on each of the IT projects listed;
	(2)  if he will list the companies with which his Department or its agencies have contracts relating to each of the IT projects;
	(3)  what the  (a) budget and  (b) cost to date has been of each of the IT projects;
	(4)  what the purpose is of each of the IT projects;
	(5)  how many contractors in  (a) his Department and  (b) its agencies are or have been working on each of the IT projects.

Angela Eagle: Only two of the projects listed in my previous answer, which had been subject to a Gateway Review by the Office of Government Commerce (OGC), belong to HM Treasury and its agencies.
	(1) HM Treasury Group's Corporate Shared Services Programme was a management programme delivering better quality service provision, through transforming skills, services and better deployment of resources. The IT-enabling element of the programme was the creation of a single system to underpin the new shared Human Resource service, for people in HM Treasury and OGC.
	The contracted companies used under the IT-enabling element of the programme were Deloittes Touche, Parity, Certes and Rullion Computer Personnel.
	(2) The OGC Consultancy Services Framework project (now known as External Resources Framework) is an acquisition project, not an IT-enabled one. It has been categorised in error as an IT-enabled project in our database and this is why it appeared in the initial reply. The framework provides OGC with access to a pool of skilled individuals to support OGC's aims and objectives by conducting reviews (e.g. Gateway Reviews, Procurement Capability Reviews, reviews of major projects and programmes) via a framework contract with a number of suppliers. The project did not use any contracted companies, as it was sourced entirely from internal OGC resource.
	The further information requested in respect of these two projects is given in the following table.
	Responsibility for the 2011 Census Project was transferred to the Cabinet Office in April 2008, when the Office for National Statistics became part of the independent UK Statistics Authority.
	In respect of HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer my right hon. Friend the Financial Secretary to the Treasury gave to the hon. Member for Welwyn Hatfield (Grant Shapps) on 18 November 2008,  Official Report, column 279W.
	The other projects listed in my previous answer form part of HMRC's Departmental Transformation Programme, including:
	(1) the New Penalties Project, which is making the changes necessary to implement a new penalties regime for HMRC taxes established in Finance Act 2007;
	(2) Excise Movement and Control System (EMCS), a project to computerise the current paper system to track the movement of duty suspended excise goods within the EU (to comply with European Council Decision 1152/2003/EC).
	Details of these projects (including the purpose of individual programmes, costs to 31 March 2008, and planned expenditure to 2011) are outlined in the National Audit Office's recent value-for-money report on that programme, published in July 2008 (HC 930).
	
		
			  HM Treasury Group Projects 
			  Projects  Number of staff  Number of contractors  Budget  Cost to date( 1) 
			 Corporate Shared Services Programme 11 7 1.36 million 0.91 million 
			 Consultancy Services Framework 6 None n/a (2)105,000 
			 (1) 30 September 2008 (2) The project is closed

Departmental ICT

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer with reference to the answer of 5 November 2008,  Official Report, column 541W, on departmental ICT, whether any of the IT projects were discontinued as a result of the Gateway review process.

Angela Eagle: None of the HMT IT projects were discontinued as a result of the Gateway review process. The Gateway process is intended to provide independent expert advice to the senior responsible owner of a programme/project on achieving successful delivery; it is not designed to recommend the cancellation of projects.
	Gateway information is only part of the assurance advice SROs receive If a Department is considering cancelling a project it will consider all assurance advice available to them.

Departmental ICT

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer with reference to the answer of 27 October 2008,  Official Report, columns 778-80W, on departmental ICT, what the  (a) expected completion date and  (b) estimated cost of each of the projects was at its outset.

Angela Eagle: Original costs and completion dates for the projects were as follows:
	
		
			  Department  IT Project  Estimated  c ost at outset ()  Estimated completion date at outset 
			 HMT OGC Laptop Refresh ProjectPlanned replacement of obsolete equipment with new devices with remote working capabilities. 280,575 August 2008 
			 
			 HMT Group NetworksImplementation of new Restricted network infrastructure for shared services. 628,750 March 2008 
			 
			 HMT Common Infrastructure Management ToolsImplementation of single toolset and process for systems management across multiple networks. Confidential and restricted including deployment of software/upgrades and security patches. 462,000 November 2008 
			 
			 HMT Firewall Replacement ProjectPlanned replacement of obsolete firewalls to ensure security and compliance of networks and services. 339,000 February 2008 
			 
			 HMT Switch Replacement ProjectPlanned replacement of obsolete network infrastructure to ensure delivery, security and performance of networks and services. 456,000 August 2008 
			 
			 HMT OGC Blackberryimplementation of Blackberry servers and devices to support the business requirements. 52,000 December 2008

Departmental Marketing

Grant Shapps: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much has been spent by his Department on advertising in the last 12 months.

Angela Eagle: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 26 November 2008,  Official Report, column 1891W, to the hon. Member for Taunton (Mr. Browne).

Departmental Ministerial Policy Advisers

Grant Shapps: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many special advisers were employed in his Department at each pay band on 30 November 2008; and what his Department's expenditure on special advisers was in 2007-08.

Angela Eagle: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 26 November 2008,  Official Report, column 1891W, to the hon. Member for Taunton (Mr. Browne).

Departmental Procurement

Alan Duncan: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of invoices for goods and services procured from small and medium-sized businesses were paid within 10 days of receipt by  (a) his Department and  (b) the agencies for which his Department is responsible in (i) 2006-07 and (ii) 2007-08; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Eagle: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 17 November 2008,  Official Report, column 166W, to the hon. Member for Hertford and Stortford (Mr. Prisk).

Departmental Rail Travel

Norman Baker: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer on what date he last used a train in the course of his official duties.

Angela Eagle: Treasury Ministers, including the Chancellor, have used various forms of public transport in the course of their ministerial duties over the last year.

Departmental Temporary Employment

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer with reference to the answer of 27 October 2008,  Official Report, column 780W, on departmental temporary employment, how many staff were recruited through each company in each year; and how long on average staff recruited through these companies worked for the Department in each year.

Angela Eagle: 73 workers in the Treasury were engaged via Kelly Services during 2007-08.
	The average length of assignment, or numbers of assignments via other suppliers is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Economic and Monetary Union

Danny Alexander: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many staff in his Department are engaged in work on the UK's potential membership of the euro.

Ian Pearson: The Chancellor announced in Budget 2008 that
	the Government does not propose a euro assessment to be initiated at the time of this budget.
	The Treasury will again review the situation at Budget time next year as required by the Chancellor's June 2003 statement.

Economic Situation: Crown Dependencies

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the  (a) remit and  (b) primary objective of the review relating to Crown Dependencies and Overseas Territories announced in the Pre-Budget Report 2008 is.

Ian Pearson: The Chancellor has asked Michael Foot to conduct an independent review of the long-term opportunities and challenges facing the British Crown Dependencies and Overseas Territories as financial centres, which have been brought into focus by recent financial and economic events. All Crown Dependencies and Overseas Territories with financial centres are in scope for the review. This covers the Channel Islands, Isle of Man, Bermuda, Cayman Islands, Gibraltar, Turks and Caicos Islands, British Virgin Islands, and Anguilla.
	The Review's objective is to consider how Crown Dependencies and Overseas Territories, whose economic models place a significant reliance on financial services, can respond in the long term to the new conditions created by the stressed economic circumstances of recent months. The terms of reference for the review have been posted on the Treasury website.

Equitable Life

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the reasons for the closure of Equitable Life to new business;
	(2)  what steps his Department has taken to protect the investments of Equitable Life policyholders;
	(3)  whether his Department monitored the proposed sale of the Equitable Life with-profits fund.

Ian Pearson: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given on 11 December 2008,  Official Report , column 261W.

EU Budget

Mark Francois: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of the EU budget UK contributions will comprise in  (a) 2008,  (b) 2009 and  (c) 2010.

Ian Pearson: Chart 2.3 (page 17) of the 2008 European Community Finances White Paper (Cm 7462) shows the respective member states' percentage shares of financing the 2008 EC Budget. The equivalent shares for the 2009 and 2010 EC Budgets will be included in the 2009 and 2010 White Papers respectively.

EU Budget

Mark Francois: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effects of trends in exchange rates on the UK's contribution to the EU budget.

Ian Pearson: Exchange rate assumptions are just one of a number of factors which are taken into account, and which inter-relate with each other, in putting together each forecast of UK contributions to the EC Budget. Figures for UK net contributions to the EC Budget are published twice each year in the Budget and the pre-Budget report (PBR) and latest estimates of these for the period 2007-08 to 2010-11 were included in Table B16 (page 210) of the PBR (Cm 7484) published on 24 November 2008.

EU Budget

Mark Francois: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he is taking to mitigate the possible effects of foreign exchange movements on the level of the UK's financial contribution to the EU; and if he will make a statement.

Ian Pearson: UK in-year contributions are not affected by exchange rate movements because contributions are made using a fixed exchange rate that is set on the last working day of the previous year.

Excise Duties: Alcoholic Drinks

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  how much the Exchequer received in alcohol duties in each year since 1997, expressed in  (a) cash terms and  (b) 2008-09 prices;
	(2)  what percentage of total tax revenue was made up by alcohol taxes in each of the last five years;
	(3)  what percentage of total tax revenue he expects to be made up by alcohol taxes in each of the next three years.

Angela Eagle: The UK Trade Information website contains information on the amount of alcohol duty revenue received by HM Revenue and Customs in cash terms. Deflating by RPI, revenue in 2008-09 prices, to the nearest 10 million, has been estimated as:
	
		
			   Revenue in 2008-09 prices (  million ) 
			 1997-98 7,880 
			 1998-99 7,920 
			 1999-2000 8,440 
			 2000-01 8,480 
			 2001-02 8,690 
			 2002-03 8,980 
			 2003-04 9,050 
			 2004-05 9,140 
			 2005-06 8,880 
			 2006-07 8,630 
			 2007-08 7,880 
		
	
	Website address:
	http://www.uktradeinfo.co.uk/index.cfm?task=factalcohol
	Alcohol duty revenue as a percentage of total HMRC revenue is summarised as follows:
	
		
			   Total revenue from alcohol duty (Percentage) 
			 2003-04 2.2 
			 2004-05 2.1 
			 2005-06 2.0 
			 2006-07 1.9 
			 2007-08 1.8 
		
	
	Forecast alcohol duty revenue as a percentage of forecast total revenue is estimated to be 1.9 per cent. in 2008-09, 2.1 per cent. in 2009-10 and 2.0 per cent. in 2010-11.

Excise Duties: Alcoholic Drinks

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the cost to the Treasury of extending the reduced rate of duty on beer for beer from singleton breweries that produce  (a) 50,000 hectolitres,  (b) 100,000 hectolitres,  (c) 150,000 hectolitres and  (d) 200,000 hectolitres per year.

Angela Eagle: No estimate of the cost of extending the reduced rate of duty on beer from singleton breweries has been made.
	The changes that have been made to alcohol duties in each year since 1997 are available from the UK Trade Information website. See table 3 from the respective bulletins. Website address:
	http://www.uktradeinfo.co.uk/index.cfm?task=bulletins

Excise Duties: Alcoholic Drinks

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what timetable he has set for reducing levels of duty on alcohol introduced to offset the temporary reduction in VAT levels.

Angela Eagle: The position is set out in Chapters 2 and 5 of the pre-Budget report.

Industrial Buildings Allowances

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his estimate is of the cost to the Exchequer of the industrial buildings allowance in each of the last five years; what percentage of such expenditure was accounted for by the construction of new hotels; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: The average annual value of IBA relief claimed by businesses was approximately 2.2 billion per annum between 2003 and 2005. The cost of this to the Exchequer is estimated to be approximately 600 million per annum.
	Businesses with a primary activity operating hotels during this period accounted for, on average, an estimated 180 million per annum; with an estimated cost to the Exchequer of 45 million to 50 million per year.
	Information for later years is not yet complete.

Non-Domestic Rates: Empty Property

David Burrowes: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effects on small businesses of the change in the level of empty property rate since its introduction on 1 April 2008.

Angela Eagle: The Department of Communities and Local Government published an impact assessment of the empty property rate relief reforms in May 2007 alongside the primary legislation.
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/localgovernment/ratingempty
	On 26 February this year, my right hon. Friend the Minister for Local Government laid a further assessment before the House, alongside the regulations.
	http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2008/em/uksiem_20080386_en.pdf
	The Government announced in the recent pre-Budget report, a temporary increase, for 2009-10, to the threshold (from 2,200 to 15,000) at which an empty property becomes liable for business rates.
	This was targeted at helping small businesses who own lower value properties manage short-term pressures due to difficult property market conditions. It is estimated more than 70 per cent. of empty properties will pay no business rates in 2009-10.
	The Government keep all taxes and reliefs under review.

Non-Domestic Rates: Ports

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer on what date the Valuation Office Agency was instructed to value port businesses for rating purposes; when the valuation process began; which ports businesses have been valued so far; and which remain to be valued.

Angela Eagle: It is the responsibility of the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) to ensure all businesses have the correct rateable value. The VOA was not specifically instructed to value port businesses, but is obliged to carry out ratings in respect of this responsibility.
	A review of the rating of businesses within the ports was started in May 2006, once points of legal principle which arose during an earlier review of the port of Southampton had been clarified. Reviews of all 55 ports have now been completed. The rating list has been updated in 50 of these cases. In the remaining five reviews, the Valuation Office has contacted the ratepayers notifying them of their intentions and inviting them to discuss the proposals in advance of the rating list being amended.
	Following is a list of the 55 ports subject to recent review.
	Barrow
	Blyth
	Boston
	Bristol
	Dover
	Falmouth
	Felixstowe
	Fleetwood
	Folkestone
	Garston
	Goole
	Great Yarmouth
	Grimsby
	Harwich dock
	Harwich International
	Heysham
	Hull
	Humber sea terminal
	Immingham
	Ipswich
	King's Lynn
	Liverpool
	Lowestoft
	Manchester ship canal
	Newhaven
	Plymouth Cattedown
	Plymouth Millbay
	Poole
	Port of London
	Portsmouth
	Ramsgate
	Southampton container terminal
	Seaham
	Sharpness
	Sheerness
	Shoreham
	Southampton
	Sunderland
	Tilbury Container Services
	Teesport
	Teignmouth
	Thamesport
	Tilbury
	Tyne
	Workington
	Barry
	Cardiff
	Fishguard
	Holyhead
	Milford Dock Company
	Milford Haven Port Authority
	Mostyn
	Newport
	Port Talbot
	Swansea.

Northern Rock

Alan Beith: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will allow Northern Rock shareholders to retain their shares when the bank is returned to the private sector.

Ian Pearson: The shares of Northern Rock were transferred to the Government when it was taken into public ownership. An independent valuer has been appointed to assess any compensation that may be payable to those affected by the transfer of Northern Rock to the Treasury on 22 February 2008.
	More information is available on the Treasury website at:
	http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/press_91_08.htm
	and on the valuer's website at:
	http://www.northernrockvaluer.org.uk

Office of Government Commerce: Zanzibar

Justine Greening: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer with reference to the answer of 26 November 2008,  Official Report, column 1907W, on Office of Government Commerce: Zanzibar, which of the organisations that signed memorandums of understanding to implement the Zanzibar eProcurement Service have since implemented it.

Angela Eagle: The Department for Work and Pensions and the Department for Communities and Local Government signed the memorandum of understanding and have since implemented the Zanzibar eProcurement Service

Office of Government Commerce: Zanzibar

Justine Greening: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer with reference to the Answer of 26 November 2008,  Official Report, column 1907W, on Office of Government Commerce: Zanzibar, what assessment his Department has made of the potential annual savings achievable from the implementation of the Zanzibar eProcurement Service by each of the organisations that signed memorandums of understanding.

Angela Eagle: Assessment of savings is the responsibility of individual organisations.

Office of Government Commerce: Zanzibar

Justine Greening: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer with reference to the answer of 26 November 2008,  Official Report, columns 1907-8W, on the Office of Government Commerce: Zanzibar, what assessment his Department has made of the annual cost to OGC Buying Solutions of  (a) running the Zanzibar User Group and  (b) the eCommerce team's work in support of the Zanzibar Service.

Angela Eagle: OGC estimate the costs to be approximately 8,000 per annum and 542,795 for 2007-08, respectively.

Office of Government Commerce: Zanzibar

Justine Greening: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much his Department has paid to ProcServe for services relating to the Zanzibar eProcurement Service in each of the last four years.

Angela Eagle: 70,000 has been paid to ProcServe in 2008-09. No payments were made in the previous three years.

Possessor of the Duchy of Cornwall

Norman Baker: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  who the Possessor of the Duchy of Cornwall is, with particular reference to its tax affairs;
	(2)  what the tax status of the Duchy of Cornwall is, with particular reference to  (a) commercial benefit derived from the marketing of Duchy of Cornwall produce,  (b) the use of the Prince of Wales's feathers device on such produce and  (c) the involvement of Choughs Nominees Ltd.

Alistair Darling: The possessor of the Duchy of Cornwall is His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, Duke of Cornwall.
	The tax arrangements for the Duchy of Cornwall are set out in the Memorandum of Understanding on Royal Taxation, attached to the Report of the Royal Trustees published on 11 February 1993 (HC464), a copy of which is available in the House of Commons Library.

Public Finance

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer with reference to table B4 of the Pre-Budget Report, on the fiscal balances compared with Budget 2008, what the figures for the cyclically-adapted  (a) surplus on current budget and  (b) net borrowing are as a percentage of projected gross domestic product for each year.

Yvette Cooper: Projections for both the cyclically-adjusted surplus on current budget and public sector net borrowing (PSNB) as a percentage of GDP can be found in Table B3and Table B4 of the 2008 pre-Budget report (p190 and p192).

Revenue and Customs: Closures

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much the consultation on the proposed closure of HM Revenue and Customs offices in Scotland cost.

Stephen Timms: Consultation on all its proposals with staff, unions, and key external stakeholders was an integral part of HM Revenue and Customs' regional review programme. This drew on the resources not only of the dedicated Workforce Change team but of a number of teams across the Department, and it is not possible to separate out the costs of consultation.

Revenue and Customs: Closures

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of his Department's liability for redundancy payments consequent upon the planned closures of HM Revenue and Customs offices, broken down by location of office.

Stephen Timms: HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is committed to avoiding compulsory redundancies as far as is reasonably practical. It has set up regional Implementation Teams to take forward the decisions on HMRC's future office structure. Each of these will be responsible for implementing the planned office changes within its area, engaging with staff to help find individual solutions that achieve the best corporate result. At this stage it is not possible to state either what the overall costs of redundancy might be, or in which locations redundancies might arise.

Revenue and Customs: Closures

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer where HM Revenue and Customs offices identified for vacation following the announcement of the rationalisation programme, which are  (a) owned or  (b) leased by HM Revenue and Customs are leased; what estimate his Department has made of the costs of relinquishing those leases; and what estimate it has made of the cost of vacating these offices.

Stephen Timms: The vast majority of HM Revenue and Customs' (HMRC) offices were included in its Strategic Transfer of the Estate to the Private Sector (STEPS), a Private Finance Initiative (PFI) contract with its estate partner, Mapeley in 2001. HMRC occupies these properties under the terms of the STEPS contract rather than by the terms of a traditional lease.
	Most of the offices identified for vacation under HMRC's Change Programme are held by HMRC under the STEPS contract or are offices that HMRC occupies by way of a non-lease, inter-departmental arrangement with other Government departments.
	The offices closed or identified for closure that are held on a direct lease by HMRC are:
	Oakglade House, Ashton Under Lyne
	Portcullis House, Southend. Floors 11-14
	Spitfire House, Edinburgh
	Liberator House, Prestwick
	Tremains House, Bridgend
	Hockney House, Shipley
	Tyr Myrddin, Carmarthen
	HMRC intends to align its vacation of its leased offices with the existing lease expiry or break dates so no additional costs other than usual lease termination costs should be incurred.
	The estimated costs of vacating the offices held on a direct lease has not been separately quantified.

Revenue and Customs: Closures

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many representations he received on the proposed closure of HM Revenue and Customs offices in Scotland; and, where such representations related to specific offices, which those offices are.

Stephen Timms: Treasury Ministers and HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) received a large number of representations about the proposed closure of HMRC offices in Scotland. Some were made before any specific proposals for the future of these offices had been put forward, but the majority were received during and after the consultation exercises on specific proposals with staff, unions, MPs with a constituency interest and relevant local authorities.
	Information about representations from external stakeholders about office closures in Scotland can be found in the impact assessments for specific buildings to be vacated. These are published on the HMRC website at
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/better-regulation/regional-reviews.htm.
	HMRC's records of staff responses to consultation exercises show that 474 staff responses, representing the views of 1,833 staff, were received during the consultation exercises on offices in Scotland. Some responses were general and some related to offices which HMRC will be retaining, but the majority included comments relating to specific office closure proposals.
	The only proposed office closures about which no specific representations have been received were Spitfire House, Edinburgh, Gilmore House, Paisley and Meadowbank Street, Dumbarton.

Revenue and Customs: Security

Francis Maude: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer with reference to the answer to the hon. Member for Rochford and Southend East of 7 October 2008,  Official Report, column 593W, on departmental security, how many departmental passes were  (a) lost and  (b) stolen, in the same period, amongst (i) HM Revenue and Customs and (ii) the Valuation Office Agency.

Stephen Timms: In the 24 months up to 7 October 2008 the number of passes reported as lost by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) staff was 653 and 32 were reported as stolen. For the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) only one pass was lost over the same period. There are in total over 90,000 HMRC and VOA staff.
	HMRC provides a helpdesk facility that enables staff to report such losses, and allows the Department to take appropriate steps to maintain security across all its estate, including the quick disabling of ID and building passes.

Royal Mint

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the market value of the  (a) Royal Mint and  (b) Land Registry.

Angela Eagle: In the PBR we announced studies which will explore the potential benefits of alternative future models for the Royal Mint, and the operating framework for the Land Registry, as part of the wider operational efficiency programme's asset strand. The studies will report progress at Budget 09.

Small Brewers Relief Scheme

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what the cost to his Department was of the Small Brewers Relief Scheme in each of the last five years;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the percentage of brewers that are eligible for the Small Brewers Relief Scheme; how many breweries took advantage of the scheme in each year since 2002; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Eagle: Information on the cost to the Treasury of the Small Brewers Relief Scheme is published at:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/tax expenditures/menu.htm
	and is only available for the last two financial years.
	The numbers of brewers eligible for the Small Brewers Relief (i.e. that produce less than 5,000 HL of beer per year) in each of the last six years were:
	
		
			   Number 
			 2002 394 
			 2003 421 
			 2004 424 
			 2005 497 
			 2006 560 
			 2007 592 
		
	
	The number of brewers that took advantage of Small Brewers Relief (i.e. that paid a duty rate of 6.63 before Budget 2007 and 6.85 after Budget 2007) in 2007 was estimated to be 419.

Small Businesses: Beer

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the number of singleton breweries which produce between  (a) 30,000 and 49,999,  (b) 50,000 and 99,999,  (c) 100,000 and 149,999 and  (d) 150,000 and 200,000 hectolitres per year.

Angela Eagle: HM Revenue and Customs estimates the number of brewers in each category, in 2007, to be as follows:
	
		
			  Number and percentage share of brewers, 2007 
			  Category  Number of brewers  Percentage of brewers 
			 0-4,999 HL 592 86.8 
			 5,000-29,999 HL 52 7.6 
			 30,000-49,999 HL 4 0.6 
			 50,000-99,999 HL 7 1.0 
			 100,000-149,999 HL 6 0.9 
			 150,000-199,999 HL 2 0.3 
			 200,000 HL 19 2.8 
			 Total 682 100.00

VAT: Christmas Cards

John Baron: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether VAT is charged on sales of charity Christmas cards.

Stephen Timms: A donation that is freely given, and for which nothing is received in return, is outside the scope of VAT. Therefore, where an element of the purchase price for charity Christmas cards is optional and is clearly set out as a donation to charity, no VAT is chargeable on that part of the payment.
	In addition, Christmas cards donated to a charity for sale are VAT zero-rated when sold by that charity (or its trading subsidiaries).
	In all other circumstances, VAT is chargeable on the full price paid for charity Christmas cards. This position reflects the requirements of our European VAT agreements.

VAT: Housing

Sarah Teather: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the income to his Department from value added tax from  (a) self-installed energy efficiency improvements and  (b) housing renovation and repair was in each year since 1997.

Ian Pearson: HM Revenue and Customs does not collect data on VAT from individual goods and services.

VAT: Registration

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the year on year change in the rate of VAT registrations  (a) in 2008-09 and  (b) in each of the previous five years has been; and what estimate he has made of the revenue lost to his Department as a result.

Ian Pearson: The number of offices processing VAT registrations was reduced from around 30 to four in 2000-01, and again from four to two in 2008.
	The number of new VAT registrations has fluctuated over those years, but overall has risen from 201,015 in 2000-01 to 263,936 in 2007-08. Net VAT receipts have risen from 58 billion to 80 billion over the same period.
	No estimate has been made for lost revenue, as H M Revenue and Customs does not believe that the reduction in offices has had any impact on the number of businesses registering for VAT or on total revenue received.

Working Tax Credit

Jim Cousins: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent estimate he has made of the take-up rate for working tax credit by  (a) single people and  (b) childless couples.

Stephen Timms: Estimates of Working Tax Credit take-up rates for singles and couples without children for 2005-06, which are the latest available estimates, are provided in table 13 of the HMRC publication Child and Working Tax Credit Take-up rates 2005-06. This publication is available on the HMRC website at:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/personal-tax-credits/cwtc-take-up2005-06.pdf
	The Government are taking steps to ensure that childless workers claim and receive the support they are entitled to. The 2008 pre-Budget report announced proposals including HMRC aiming to double its partnership marketing coverage of Working Tax Credit (WTC) in the coming year.

HEALTH

Abortion

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the basis was for his Department's estimate of the number of illegal abortions contained in paragraph 2.4 of the partial regulatory impact assessment on the Termination of Pregnancy Bill of Session 2006-07; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: As stated in paragraph 2.4 of the partial regulatory impact assessment (PRIA), this estimate came from the Lane Committee report (the report of the Committee on the Working of the Abortion Act set up under the chairmanship of Mrs Justice Lane and presented to Parliament in 1974) which found evidence that between 20,000 and 60,000 illegal abortions were carried out annually before the 1967 Act came into force. Therefore, in the PRIA we considered 20,000 to be a realistic minimum estimate. Furthermore, during the period 1964 to 1966 (prior to the Abortion Act) 98 women (32 a year) died as a result of illegal abortions.

Allergies: Food

Shailesh Vara: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions his Department has had with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on the labelling of food in restaurants and fast food outlets in relation to potential allergens; whether he plans to take steps to raise awareness of the risk of nut derivatives and other allergens in food served by such outlets; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: The Food Standards Agency (FSA) is working closely with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and other Government Departments, in considering the new European Food Information proposal, which aims to increase the availability of allergen information for foods sold loose, including in catering establishments, within the European Union.
	The FSA already provides best practice guidance to help businesses selling food that is not pre-packed to meet the needs of their food allergic customers and has recently introduced an interactive training module on its website that is freely available for such businesses to use. The FSA has also worked with the Sector Skills Council to ensure that training for those working in the hospitality sector covers food allergy issues as part of the food safety training.

Cancer: Medical Treatments

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what steps he plans to take to facilitate access to information on treatment choices for those with cancer;
	(2)  what plans he has to improve post-treatment support for cancer patients.

Ann Keen: We highlighted in the Cancer Reform Strategy: Maintaining momentum, building for the futurefirst annual report published on 1 December 2008, that major progress has been made over the past year on providing high quality information to cancer patients at each step in the care pathway. A copy of the strategy has been placed in the Library.
	The National Cancer Action Team (NCAT), with Cancer Networks across England and over 13 cancer charities, has been working to develop national cancer patient information pathways to support the delivery of information prescriptions to cancer patients.
	There are plans in early 2009 to look at a primary care module of the cancer patient information delivery tool for general practitioners and other community staff, to help them to ensure that patients living with cancer have access to high quality co-ordinated information.

Dental Services

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many  (a) root fillings and  (b) individual tooth extractions have been carried out under the NHS dental contract in each year since 2006.

Ann Keen: This information is not collected in the form requested. Such information as is available is as follows.
	Information on the incidence of certain treatments (including root-fillings and extractions) is available for a sample of courses of treatments (CoTs) processed in 2007-08, by treatment band, in Table 4a (adult courses of treatment) and Table B4 (child courses of treatment) of the Dental Treatment Band Analysis, England and Wales 2007-08 report. This information is available at England level.
	The information is presented as the percentage of CoTs that included particular items of treatment, the number of items of treatment per 100 CoTs, and the average number of treatment items per CoT where the treatment occurs.
	This report, published on 21 August 2008, has already been placed in the Library and is also available on the NHS Information Centre website at:
	http://www.ic.nhs.uk/pubs/dentaltba0708

Dental Services: Enfield

Joan Ryan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much funding was provided for dental services in the Enfield Primary Care Trust area in each year between 1997 and 2008.

Ann Keen: Prior to April 2006, most primary dental services were provided under former General Dental Service (GDS) arrangements. These were demand-led services where the pattern of dental expenditure was largely determined by where dentists chose to practice, and how much national health service work they chose to undertake. Primary care trusts (PCTs) were not given fixed GDS funding allocations, except for those situations where individual Personal Dental Service pilots were established to test alternative, local commissioning arrangements and new forms of contract remuneration.
	The former GDS arrangements were replaced with effect from 1 April 2006, when the Government introduced a fundamental reform programme for primary dental care services. PCTs were given responsibility for planning and commissioning primary dental services and provided with local, devolved, dental budgets. The primary dental service funding allocations made to Enfield PCT for each of the three years since PCTs assumed full responsibility for primary dental care services are in the following table. These are net of income from dental charges paid by patients, which are retained locally to supplement the resources available for dentistry. Actual expenditure levels are determined by the pattern and type of services commissioned by each PCT. PCTs may also dedicate some of their other NHS resources to dentistry if they consider this an appropriate local priority.
	
		
			  Primary dental service net funding allocations for Enfield PCT 
			  000 
			   2006-07  2007-08  2008-09 
			 Allocation 10,131 10,690 11,836 
			  Note: PCTs are awarded separate funding allocations to meet the cost of any dental vocational trainees who may be placed with dental practices in their area.

Dental Services: Enfield

Joan Ryan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS dentists were registered in the Enfield Primary Care Trust area in each year between 1997 and 2008.

Ann Keen: The number of national health service dentists in England, as at 31 March, 1997 to 2006 is available in annex E of the NHS Dental Activity and Workforce Report England: 31 March 2006 report. The information is provided by primary care trust (PCT) and strategic health authority (SHA).
	This measure relates to the number of NHS dentists recorded on PCT lists as at 31 March each year. This information is based on the old contractual arrangements, which were in place up to and including 31 March 2006. This report, published on 23 August 2006, has already been placed in the Library and is also on the website of The Information Centre for health and social care at:
	http://www.ic.nhs.uk/pubs/dwfactivity.
	The number of dentists with NHS activity during the years ending 31 March 2007 and 2008 is available in table G1 of annex 3 of the NHS Dental Statistics for England: 2007/08 report. Information is available by SHA and by PCT. This information is based on the new dental contractual arrangements, introduced on 1 April 2006.
	Following a recent consultation exercise, this measure is based on a revised methodology and therefore supersedes previously published work force figures relating to the new dental contractual arrangements. It is not comparable to the information collected under the old contractual arrangements. The revised methodology counts the number of dental performers with NHS activity recorded via FP17 claim forms in each year ending 31 March. This report, published on 21 August 2008, has already been placed in the Library and is also on the website of the Information Centre for health and social care at:
	http://www.ic.nhs.uk/pubs/dental0708.
	Further work is planned over the next few months to determine whether the new definition used under the new dental contractual arrangements can be applied to the years under the old contractual arrangements to produce a consistent time series.
	The dentist numbers published are headcounts and do not differentiate between full-time and part-time dentists, nor do they account for the fact that some dentists may do more NHS work than others.

Dental Services: Greater London

Joan Ryan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what the NHS dentist to patient ratio was in the  (a) London Strategic Health Authority and  (b) Enfield Primary Care Trust area in each year between 1997 and 2008;
	(2)  how many NHS dentists there were per 100,000 people in the  (a) London Strategic Health Authority and  (b) Enfield Primary Care Trust area in each year between 1997 and 2008.

Ann Keen: Information is not available in the format requested.
	The number of persons per national health service dentist in England, as at 31 March, 1997 to 2006 is available in Annex F of the NHS Dental Activity and Workforce Report England: 31 March 2006 report. The information is provided by primary care trust (PCT) and strategic health authority (SHA).
	This measure relates to the number of NHS dentists recorded on PCT lists as at 31 March each year. This information is based on the old contractual arrangements, which were in place up to and including 31 March 2006. This report, published on 23 August 2006, has already been placed in the Library and is also on the website of the Information Centre for health and social care at:
	http://www.ic.nhs.uk/pubs/dwfactivity.
	This measure is not available under the new contractual arrangements.
	The number of dentists with NHS activity per 100,000 population, during the years ending 31 March, 2007 and 2008 is available in Table G1 of Annex 3 of the NHS Dental Statistics for England: 2007-08 report. Information is available by SHA and by PCT. This information is based on the new dental contractual arrangements, introduced on 1 April 2006. This measure is not available under the old contractual arrangements.
	Following a recent consultation exercise, the count of dentists is based on a revised methodology and therefore supersedes previously published workforce figures relating to the new dental contractual arrangements. It is not comparable to the information collected under the old contractual arrangements. The revised methodology counts the number of dental performers with NHS activity recorded via FP17 claim forms in each year ending 31 March. This report, published on 21 August 2008, has already been placed in the Library and is also on the website of the Information Centre for health and social care at:
	http://www.ic.nhs.uk/pubs/dental0708.
	Further work is planned over the next few months to determine whether the new definition used under the new dental contractual arrangements can be applied to the years under the old contractual arrangements to produce a consistent time series.
	The dentist numbers published are headcounts and do not differentiate between full-time and part-time dentists, nor do they account for the fact that some dentists may do more NHS work than others.

Departmental Disabled Staff

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what conclusions his Department has reached in fulfilment of its duty under section 3.111 of the statutory code of practice of the disability equality duty.

Phil Hope: The 2007-08 report on the disability equality duty was produced as part of an updated single equality scheme in June 2008, but this is still to be published. The proposals and conclusions on disability equality in that report are echoed in the Secretary of State for Health triennial disability equality report, which considers progress towards equality for disabled people in the health and social care sector, published on 1 December 2008.
	These are:
	Equality of access to high quality health and care services is key;
	There is a need to continue work to break through attitudinal barriers;
	Information for disabled people should be fit for purpose;
	Consultation and involvement of disabled people needs to be more systematic;
	Targets for equality should be set that are clear, consistent and ambitious;
	Progressing disability equality requires partnership working at national, regional and local level;
	Greater effort is needed to put the evidence of what works into practice; and
	We need to build the capacity to support disabled people to live independently.
	A copy of the report has been placed in the Library.

Departmental Gifts

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what benefits in kind have been recorded as being provided to senior staff in his Department in its resource accounts for  (a) 2005-06,  (b) 2006-07 and  (c) 2007-08.

Ben Bradshaw: There were no benefits in kind reported in the 2005-06 and 2006-07 resource accounts. In 2007-08, the benefits-in-kind for David Nicholson and Bill Kirkup were second home allowances. The benefits-in-kind for Chan Wheeler were a relocation package of 41,900 and a second home allowance of 90,600.

Departmental Higher Education

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many staff in his Department undertook courses funded by the Department for  (a) undergraduate degrees,  (b) postgraduate degrees or diplomas,  (c) Masters degrees,  (d) MBA degrees and  (e) PhD degrees in the last 12 months, broken down by pay band.

Ben Bradshaw: The information requested is not held centrally. Decisions about training for qualifications and associated expenditure are arrived upon locally within business directorates. The information requested cannot be established from local sources without incurring disproportionate costs.

Departmental Official Hospitality

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much his Department spent on Ministerial hospitality in  (a) 2004-05, (b) 2005-06,  (c) 2006-07 and  (d) 2007-08, expressed in current prices.

Ben Bradshaw: The information is available is in the following table.
	
		
			  Amount spent on ministerial hospitality per financial year expressed in current prices 
			
			 2004-05 10,203.74 
			 2005-06 22,993.84 
			 2006-07 41,583.06 
			 2007-08 18,460.30 
		
	
	All spending on official entertainment is made in accordance with the principles set out in Managing Public Money.

Departmental Pay

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much members of his Department's departmental board claimed in expenses in each financial year from 2004-05 to 2007-08.

Ben Bradshaw: Information about the expenses claimed, and incurred by all members of the Departmental Board during these four financial years is not held in one place. It could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Procurement

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether there has been any nugatory cost to his Department and its agencies relating to tendered procurement where the tender process has been cancelled prior to the award of the contract in the last three years.

Ben Bradshaw: The Department paid 16.4 million for cancelled in procurement Private Finance Initiative schemes in 2007.
	The Department also paid 10.75 million for cancelled in procurement independent sector treatment centre schemes in the last three years.

Departmental Public Expenditure

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  with reference to page 213 of the 2008 Pre-Budget Report, Cm 7484, what the latest planned capital expenditure is for  (a) his Department and  (b) the NHS in each year from 2008-09 to 2010-11;
	(2)  with reference to page 214 of the 2008 Pre-Budget Report, Cm 7484, which NHS capital programmes will be changed following the change in the NHS capital budget in 2010-11; and what the change will be in each case.

Ben Bradshaw: The sums shown in the pre-Budget report represent the capital funding available for the national health service and departmental administration. The Department plans to spend all of the available resources in 2008-09, 2009-10 and 2010-11.
	Only about 20 million per annum of this capital is used to renew the facilities used for departmental administration. The remainder is either invested in the NHS' asset base or in facilities to support the delivery of NHS services, such as the Connecting for Health programme.
	The pre-Budget report brought forward 100 million of capital spending from 2010-11 into 2009-10 to advance the upgrading of up to 600 general practitioner surgeries to training practices. No other specific changes are planned as a result of the pre-Budget report.

Departmental Public Expenditure

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health with reference to the 2008 Pre-Budget Report, Cm 7484, what contribution his Department is expected to make to the 5 billion efficiency savings in 2010-11; and how he plans to achieve such savings.

Ben Bradshaw: As stated in the pre-Budget report, the 5 billion in efficiency savings will be allocated across Departments in Budget 2009.

Departmental Public Expenditure

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information his Department submitted to HM Treasury on its potential for efficiency savings in 2010-11 prior to the publication of the 2008 Pre-Budget Report.

Ben Bradshaw: The Department and the Treasury are in regular contact and work closely on value for money issues including savings in 2010-11.

Departmental Rail Travel

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health on what date he last used a train in the course of his official duties.

Ben Bradshaw: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State uses trains on a regular basis in the course of his official duties. The Secretary of State last travelled by train on 4 December 2008. All ministerial travel is undertaken in accordance with the Ministerial Code.

Departmental Sick Leave

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the rate of sickness absence of staff in his Department was in each of the last five years.

Ben Bradshaw: Information on average working days lost (AWDL) per member of staff due to sickness absence in the Department and its Agencies is presented in the following table:
	
		
			   Coverage  AWDL 
			 2007-08(1) Core Department of Health 5.3 
			 2006-07(1) Core Department of Health 6.5 
			 2005(2) Core Department of Health 7.0 
			 2004(2) Department and its Agencies 3.8 
			 2003(2) Department and its Agencies 5.4 
			 (1) Financial year (2) Calendar year 
		
	
	The change in the figures from calendar years to financial year between 2005 and 2006-07 reflects a change in the annual period covered by the reports. The change between 2004 and 2005 from the Department and its Agencies together to the Department and its Agencies separately reflects a change in the level of aggregation of information in reporting.

Departmental Work Experience

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many individuals have worked in his Department on  (a) paid work experience or internship placements and  (b) unpaid work experience or internships in each of the past three years; on average how many hours a week were worked by such people in each year; what types of work each was involved in; what proportion were in full-time education; what proportion did not complete their set period of work experience; and how much those who received remuneration were paid on average per week in each year.

Ben Bradshaw: The Department has not, in the past, held any central records of student placements or persons on work experience, and national health service trainees. These have been arranged by local sections and directorates. It would incur disproportionate costs to collect the information requested.

Depressive Illnesses: Drugs

Hugo Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the cost of prescribing anti-depressant drugs in  (a) East Devon constituency,  (b) the South West region and  (c) England was in the last year for which figures are available.

Dawn Primarolo: The net ingredient cost (NIC) of prescriptions prescribed and dispensed in the community for anti-depressant drugs as defined in sections 4.3 of the British National Formulary (BNF) is as follows.
	
		
			  NIC of anti-depressant drugs (BNF section 4.3) for the financial year 2007-08 
			  Area  BNF name  NIC (000) 
			 Devon primary care trust (PCT) Antidepressant Drugs 3,687.3 
			 South West strategic health authority (SHA) Antidepressant Drugs 26,859.8 
			 England Antidepressant Drugs 264,503.2 
			  Note: We are unable to supply information for East Devon constituency as this is not a health region. We have supplied information for the health area that best fits East Devon, namely Devon PCT. For the South West region we have supplied the figure for South West SHA.  Source: Prescribing Analysis and Cost Tool system

Diabetes: Children

Shailesh Vara: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many children have been diagnosed with diabetes in each of the last 10 years, broken down by  (a) primary care trust area and  (b) strategic health authority area.

Ann Keen: Data for the number of children diagnosed with diabetes are not available. However, estimates based on the National Diabetes Audit, suggest there are an estimated 20,000 children with diabetes in England (the vast majority of them type 1 diabetes) and some experts suggest that there may also be up to 1,000 children with type 2 diabetes in England.

Diabetes: Children

Mark Hunter: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many children under the age of 16 have  (a) type 1 and  (b) type 2 diabetes in (i) England, (ii) the North West, (iii) the Stockport Primary Care Trust area and (iv) Cheadle constituency.

Ann Keen: Data for the number of children of school age diagnosed with diabetes are not available. However, estimates suggest there are an estimated 20,000 children with diabetes in England (the vast majority type 1 diabetes), and some experts suggest that there may be up to 1,000 children with type 2 diabetes in England.(1)
	(1) Data sourced from the Paediatric National Diabetes Audit and Diabetes UK

Doctors: Career Structure

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of on-call time worked by junior doctors was classified as  (a) inactive and  (b) active at the latest date on which figures are available.

Ann Keen: The inactive and active on-call time categories are included in proposed amendments to the European working time directive (EWTD) that the European Parliament plans to consider on 17 December. The Department does not collect figures on inactive and active time.
	Following the SiMAP and Jaeger European Court of Justice Rulings, any time a doctor is required to be on-call in the workplace counts as working time, even if the doctor was inactive or asleep. These rulings have virtually ended resident on-call working for doctors in training because on-call time (counted as working) significantly reduces the remaining time available for medical training and treating patients. Most doctors in training now work shift patterns.
	Under the new deal contract for doctors in training, information on working patterns and hours are collected by NHS Employers. The latest figures can be accessed on their website via
	www.nhsemployers.org/pay-conditions/pay-conditions-467.cfm.

Doctors: Career Structure

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many and what percentage of hospitals have rota gaps; what assessment he has made of the effect of such gaps on junior doctors; and if he will list the hospitals and the departments within them that have rota gaps.

Ann Keen: Local national health service organisations must plan according to their priorities as they are best placed to assess the health needs of their local health community and will commission the required number of training places to develop the workforce to meet those needs. NHS workforce planning is supported by engagement with all key stakeholders, including the medical profession.
	We have more doctors in training than ever before, over 46,700, and an increasing number of undergraduate medical students. Consultant numbers have increased year on year since 1997 and now stand at a record high of over 33,600.

Doctors: Career Structure

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  whether active on call time will begin when  (a) a doctor receives a call,  (b) a doctor responds to a call or  (c) a doctor arrives with the patient; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  how  (a) inactive and  (b) active call time is calculated; and how it will be calculated when the Working Time Directive comes into force with regard to the NHS.

Ann Keen: A doctor who receives a work related call is counted as working. The proposed changes to the European Working Time Directive (EWTD), supported by the Council of Ministers, would not change this interpretation.
	Guidance on the Working Time Regulations can be found on the Department of Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform's website via:
	www.berr.gov.uk/whatwedo/employment/employmentlegislation/employmentguidance/page30342.html
	The inactive part of on-call time has been defined as the period during which the on-call worker has the obligation to be available at the workplace to intervene, at the employer's request, to carry out his activity or duties, but is not required to carry out his activity or duties. The active time is the period when the worker carries out his activity or duties.
	Any changes to the EWTD require the support of both the European Council and the European Parliament under the co-decision process. The Parliament plan to vote on the possible amendments to the Directive on 17 December 2008. Their view will then be passed back to Council for consideration. Member states will have three years from any agreement to implement changes and the United Kingdom would consult openly before so doing.

Drugs: Rehabilitation

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health according to the National Drug Treatment Monitoring System, how many clients in each local authority structured drug treatment  (a) had a child aged 16 years or under and  (b) were living with a child aged 16 years or under in each of the last 10 years.

Dawn Primarolo: Although the data requested are collected via the National Drugs Treatment Monitoring System, the National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse (NTA) have identified problems with the quality of these data and it believes that releasing these data in their current form would be misleading. The NTA are addressing these data quality issues and expect to publish these data, with an assessment of their quality, alongside their annual statistics release in October 2009.

Food: Safety

Brian Iddon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many public analyst laboratories were open in each year since 1997.

Dawn Primarolo: This information is not held centrally. However, we are aware that there are currently 21 public analyst laboratories in the United Kingdom.

General Practitioners: Pharmacy

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the future of dispensing GP practices in  (a) Kettering constituency,  (b) Northamptonshire and  (c) England.

Phil Hope: Following publication of the White Paper Pharmacy in EnglandBuilding on Strengths, Delivering the Future in April, a consultation on proposals for reform was carried out between 27 August 2008 and 20 November 2008. The consultation included partial impact assessments on the four options relating to control of entry for dispensing doctors. The impact assessments looked at the likely effect of each of the options on dispensing doctors in Englandthey did not look at individual localities.
	We recognise the concerns that are being expressed by dispensing doctors, their staff and patients. There is no intention to abolish dispensing doctors. They play an important role in ensuring continued access to pharmaceutical services and providing patient care for those who need it. We will make our decision as quickly as possible, following full consideration of the tens of thousands of responses received.

Health Services: EU Countries

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions he has had with his European counterparts on provision of health care for British citizens who are taken ill while on holiday.

Dawn Primarolo: The European Health Insurance Card which entitles citizens of European Economic Area (EEA) to state-provided health care during a visit to any EEA country, was adopted in 2005 by all member states. The United Kingdom continues to take part in discussions with European bodies and other member states around the practicalities of the use of the card when, and if, the need arises.

Health Services: Private Sector

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many  (a) older people,  (b) people with a learning disability,  (c) people with a sensory impairment and  (d) people with a physical impairment partially purchase their own care packages.

Phil Hope: These data are not held centrally.

Hospitals: Closures

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance his Department has issued to strategic health authorities on  (a) the closure of hospitals and  (b) the transfer of hospital services to alternative locations.

Ann Keen: Proposals for the reconfiguration of services are a matter for the national health service locally working in conjunction with clinicians, patients and other stakeholders.
	Leading Local Change, published by the Department in May this year, makes very clear that any changes to the NHS have to be locally led and clinically driven, built upon a sound clinical case for change. A copy of the publication has been placed in the Library.

Malnutrition

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will place in the Library copies of all the reports made to the National Reporting and Learning System in December 2007 of patient safety incidents concerning malnutrition.

Ann Keen: The National Patient Safety Agency's Reporting and Learning System (RLS) is a confidential incident reporting system, which relies on voluntary reports of patient safety incidents. In order to protect the confidentiality of patients and national health service staff, individual incident reports are not publicly available. It is therefore not possible to make available the reports made to the RLS in this way.

Maternity Services

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of pregnant women had a health and social care needs assessment by a midwife or healthcare professional within the first 12 weeks of pregnancy in the last 12 months.

Ann Keen: Data for the last 12 months on the proportion of pregnant women who had a health and social care needs assessment by a midwife or healthcare professional within the first 12 weeks of pregnancy are not yet available.
	The first quarterly data that will enable an assessment of performance based on the revised data definitions that support monitoring of the public service agreement indicator will be available in mid August 2009.

Medical Treatments

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department takes to protect patients from the risk posed by the varying bioequivalence of therapies used for the same indication; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: All medicines are licensed in accordance with European directive 2001/83/EC on human medicinal products. Each different medication used for an indication will undergo a full and thorough evaluation of its quality, safety and efficacy by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).
	Generic products, which are non-branded formulations of an established product that has been licensed for at least eight years in the European Community, are not required to generate original clinical data to prove the safety and efficacy of the active medicinal substance that they contain. However they are assessed for bioequivalence with the branded reference product to ensure that they have the same therapeutic effect.
	Details about the product will be set out in the Summary of Product Characteristics, which helps prescribers to choose which product to prescribe by providing them with the necessary information about the use of the product, its dosage and any necessary safety warnings or precautions for use as well as information about possible side effects. An equivalent document, the Patient Information Leaflet informs and educates patients about the medicines prescribed for them including information on how to take or use it appropriately.

Medical Treatments Abroad

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the cost to his Department of  (a) EEA health care claims and  (b) UK health care claims against other EEA countries was in 2007-08; and what estimate he has made of such costs in 2008-09.

Dawn Primarolo: Estimates of the costs of European Economic Area (EEA) health care claims are made annually for the purposes of provisions made in the Department's accounts in accordance with Treasury resource accounting rules. For 2007-08 the totals are set out in the following table.
	
		
			  Resource outturn totals: 2007-08 activity 
			
			 Claims by EEA member states against UK 630,400,000 
			 Claims by UK against EEA member states 45,900,000 
			  Note: Totals are rounded to nearest 100,000.  Source:  2007-08 Resource Accounting and Budgeting (RAB) exercise. 
		
	
	The estimates of such costs for 2008-09 have yet to be completed and could not be made available in advance of the publication of the Department's 2008-09 resource accounts.

Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency: Standards

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many yellow card reports the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency received in each year since 1997; to which  (a) drug and  (b) device each such report related; and how many such reports were made by (i) patients and (ii) healthcare professionals in each year.

Dawn Primarolo: Reports of suspected adverse drug reactions (ADRs) are collected by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and Commission for Human Medicines (CHM) through the spontaneous reporting scheme; the Yellow Card Scheme. Approximately 20,000 reports of ADRs are reported to the MHRA/CHM through this scheme each year. The scheme collects ADR reports from across the whole United Kingdom and includes all medicines, including those from prescriptions, over-the-counter or general retail sales. Reports are also received for herbal medicines and other unlicensed medicines. Reports for adverse incidents with medical devices are not collected by the Yellow Card Scheme.
	With regard to a breakdown of suspected drugs reported via the Yellow Card Scheme, due to the sheer volume of data, we refer the hon. Member to the MHRA website at:
	http://www.mhra.gov.uk/daps.
	At this website, Drug Analysis Prints (DAPs) can be found. DAPs are freely available in the public domain and list all suspected reactions reported for a particular medicinal active substance. A breakdown of total numbers of reports received for a particular medicinal active substance and the number of suspected reactions are also stated on a DAP.
	Table 1 shows the number of suspected ADRs received by the MHRA between 1997 and 2007. The second column shows the total number of ADR reports submitted including those from marketing authorisation holders through their legal obligations. Columns three and four provide the number of reports received directly from patients and health care professionals via the Yellow Card Scheme.
	
		
			  Table 1 
			  Year received by MHRA  Total number of spontaneous suspected ADR reports received (including company ADR reports)  Number of spontaneous UK suspected ADR reports submitted directly by patients  Number of spontaneous UK suspected ADR reports submitted directly by health  care professionals 
			 1997 16,627 0 14,181 
			 1998 18,047 0 14,908 
			 1999 18,484 0 14,938 
			 2000 33,147 0 29,229 
			 2001 21,454 0 17,256 
			 2002 17,604 0 12,890 
			 2003 19,218 0 13,951 
			 2004 19,973 0 13,494 
			 2005 21,925 949 12,585 
			 2006 22,021 3,598 10,913 
			 2007 21,767 1,651 10,469 
		
	
	Medical device related adverse incident reports are not submitted via the Yellow Card system. The MHRA operates a separate, voluntary reporting system for all medical device users. The numbers of such reports received from patients and health care professionals in the United Kingdom is given in table 2.
	
		
			  Table 2 
			  Year received by MHRA  Total number of adverse incident reports  Total number of adverse incident reports submitted directly by patients/members of the public  Total number of adverse incident reports submitted directly by health care professionals 
			 1997 5,383 Not applicable 3,653 
			 1998 6,298 Not applicable 5,007 
			 1999 6,610 Not applicable 4,297 
			 2000 7,249 Not applicable 4,613 
			 2001 7,896 Not applicable 5,660 
			 2002 8,756 Not applicable 4,927 
			 2003 8,803 Not applicable 4,204 
			 2004 8,840 Not applicable 4,546 
			 2005 7,862 Not applicable 3,806 
			 2006 7,975 117 3,708 
			 2007 8,634 103 3,429 
			  Notes: 1. 'Patients' are included under the heading 'Patients/Members of the Public'. 2. The first full year in which reports from patients/members of the public were identified separately was 2006. Therefore for the years 1997 to 2005, this has been identified as Not applicable. 3. MHRA records for 1979-99 contain the total number of adverse incident reports received and the percentage for each recorded report source. The figures for reports received from health care professionals for these years have been calculated using those percentages.

Mental Health: Unemployed

Mark Hunter: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what plans he has to increase the capacity of mental health care services during a period of increasing unemployment;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the effects on demand for mental health care services as a result of increasing rates of unemployment;
	(3)  what plans he has to reduce the prevalence of mental illness related to redundancy or fear of redundancy.

Phil Hope: We recognise that there are links between poor mental health and difficult economic circumstances and, in the current climate, it is understandable that people might worry more about their finances. Mental health services in England are now better prepared than ever before to provide help for these people.
	Since 2001-02, real terms investment in adult mental health services increased by 44 per cent. (or 1.7 billion) putting in place the services and staff needed to transform mental health services. The national health service spent 5.53 billion on these services in 2007-08 (3.844 billion in 2001-02).
	We now have 64 per cent. more consultant psychiatrists, 71 per cent. more clinical psychologists and 21 per cent. more mental health nurses than we had in 1997, providing better care and support for people with mental health problems. (Full-time equivalent)
	Because of the National Service Framework and increased funding, we now have over 740 new community mental health teams offering home treatment, early intervention, or intensive support for people who might otherwise have been admitted to hospital.
	Further, we are investing significantly in the Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) programme with annual funding rising to 173 million in the third year (2010-11), to train 3,600 extra therapists and treat 900,000 more people in those three years.
	This programme is relieving distress and transforming lives by offering effective intervention and treatment choice to people with depression and anxiety disorders and improving the collection, recording and measuring of patients' health outcomes, producing data that allow further research.
	There were 35 new services launched last month, with more than 800 therapy workers now offering this support to people who need it.

Neurology

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how the NHS will demonstrate progress in planning and developing the levels of service quality described in the National Service Framework for Long-term Neurological Conditions following the end of the planning period; how this demonstration of progress will be published; and what further consultation there will be on progress on the delivery of key national service frameworks objectives.

Ann Keen: The National Service Framework (NSF) for Long-term Conditions, published in March 2005, focuses on improving services for people with neurological conditions across England. Since publication of the NSF, the Department has co-ordinated a range of activity to help local health and social care organisations take forward implementation of the NSF. This includes:
	working with key national health service, social care, voluntary and independent sector stakeholders, as well as service users and carers, to identify and address key issues in neurological services and the stakeholders' role in implementation;
	ensuring that other key delivery programmes, most especially the White Paper Our Health, Our Say and the long-term conditions strategy help deliver key NSF objectives; and
	work with the Care Services Improvement Partnership to promote implementation of the NSF through a co-ordinated work programme, including regional workshops, a web-based getting started pack and self-assessment tool for services.
	The NSF is for implementation over 10 years and local bodies can set their own pace of change within this period, according to local priorities. However, the Planning Framework makes clear that the NHS and local authorities will need to demonstrate that they are making progress in planning and developing the levels of service quality described in the NSF over the course of the three year planning period (2005-08).
	For the first time, in 2008-09, the Healthcare Commission's Annual Healthcheck will cover primary care trust (PCT) roles both as providers and commissioners in two separate parts of the overall assessment. Assessment of PCTs as providers will include their compliance with health care and quality standards, and ongoing clinical quality investigations as appropriate. Looking at PCTs as commissioners, the Healthcare Commission will identify whether PCTs are achieving core standards and their performance against national priorities such as National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence guidance and NSFs in their commissioning functions.

NHS Direct

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people in  (a) North Yorkshire and York Primary Care Trust and  (b) England have made calls to NHS Direct in each year since 2001; and what the estimated cost of the service was in each year.

Ben Bradshaw: The information on calls made to NHS Direct from North Yorkshire and York Primary Care Trust and England is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is in the following tables.
	
		
			   Calls answered by NHS Direct that originated in North Yorkshire and York PCT  Calls answered by NHS Direct nationally 
			 2003 33 5,256,329 
			 2004 58 5,299,298 
			 2005 8,861 5,484,724 
			 2006 54,358 5,262,298 
			 2007 49,283 4,737,824 
			 Total 112,593 26,040,473 
			  Note: This data is only available from 2003 onwards. 
		
	
	
		
			   Total costs of core service (000) 
			 2004-05 121,372 
			 2005-06 141,030 
			 2006-07 (1)127,687 
			 2007-08 124,017 
			 (1 )From 2006-07 the cost of providing the core service (0845 telephone service, NHS Direct online and digital TV services) includes the cost of providing access via the internet and digital TV. The figures in table 1 do not include contacts via the web or digital TV service.  Note: This data is only available from 2004-05 onwards.

NHS: Expenditure

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what  (a) net NHS expenditure,  (b) net NHS expenditure per head and  (c) net NHS expenditure as a proportion of GDP was in England in each year from 1997-98 to 2007-08.

Ben Bradshaw: The statistics requested are given in the following table. It should be noted that expenditure as a percentage of gross domestic product (GDP) and expenditure per head are calculated using HM Treasury published information (see notes to table). UK figures are supplied for expenditure as a proportion of GDP as GDP is published on a UK basis.
	
		
			  Net NHS expenditure, Net NHS expenditure/head and expenditure as a percentage of GDP 
			Net NHS expenditure( 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)   ( billion)  Net NHS  expenditure/head( 8)  UK public health expenditure as a percentage of  GDP( 9)  (%) 
			  Cash( 1) 
			 1997-98 Outturn 34.664 710 5.4 
			 1998-99 Outturn 36.608 740 5.4 
			 1999-2000 Outturn 39.881 810 5.3 
			  
			  Resource Budgeting 
			 Stage 1(2) 
			 1999-2000 Outturn 40.201   
			 2000-01 Outturn 43.932 890 5.6 
			 2001-02 Outturn 49.021 980 5.9 
			 2002-03 Outturn 54.042 1,082 6.2 
			  
			  Resource Budgeting 
			 Stage 2(3, 5) 
			 2003-04 Outturn 64.173 1,220 6.6 
			 2004-05 Outturn 69.051 1,350 6.9 
			 2005-06 Outturn 75.822 1,436 7.2 
			 2006-07 Outturn 80.561 1,514 7.1 
			 2007-08 Outturn 89.271 1,676 7.3 
			  Notes:  Expenditure figures (1) Expenditure pre 1999-2000 is on a cash basis. (2) Expenditure figures from 1999-2000 to 2002-03 are on a Stage 1 Resource Budgeting basis. (3) Expenditure figures from 2003-04 to 2010-11 are on a Stage 2 Resource Budgeting basis. (4) Figures are not consistent over the period, therefore it is difficult to make comparisons across different periods. (5) Figures from 2003-04 include a technical adjustment for trust depreciation. (6) Expenditure excludes NHS (Annually Managed Expenditure). (7) Total Expenditure is calculated as the sum of revenue and capital expenditure net of non-trust depreciation and impairments. This is in line with HMT Guidance Expenditure per head. (8) Expenditure/head calculated as reported in evidence to the Public Expenditure Inquiry 2008; this uses the Health Expenditure as defined under the HM Treasury's Total Expenditure on Services (TES aggregate). This definition allows comparison on the same basis between England and the Devolved Administrations. The TES definition of Health Expenditure for England includes most Department of Health revenue resource near cash (excludes certain items e.g. grants to local authorities) plus local authority spending on health plus DIUS' Medical Research Council spending plus National Lottery spending on health.  Expenditure as percentage of GDP (9 )Expenditure as a percentage of GDP is calculated using HM Treasury data published in Public Expenditure Statistical Analyses.

NHS: Finance

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what  (a) net NHS expenditure,  (b) net NHS expenditure per head and  (c) net NHS expenditure as a proportion of GDP is planned to be in England in each year from 2008-09 to 2010-11.

Ben Bradshaw: Information on planned net NHS expenditure and net NHS expenditure per head from 2008-09 to 2010-11 is given in the following table.
	The Department does not provide forecast expenditure as a proportion of gross domestic product (GDP) as forecasts of GDP are the remit of HM Treasury.
	
		
			   2008-09  2009-10  2010-11 
			 Net NHS expenditure (England) ( million) 96,213 102,742 108,183 
			 Population (million) 51.488 51.888 52.297 
			 Net NHS expenditure per head () 1,869 1,980 2,069 
			  Notes: 1. NHS expenditure is the sum of revenue and capital expenditure net of non-trust depreciation and impairments. This is in line with HMT guidance. 2. Population projection figures source: Office for National Statistics.

NHS: Internet

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much independent hospitals have paid to appear on the NHS Choices website in the latest period for which figures are available.

Ben Bradshaw: The NHS Choices service receives no payment from any organisation in order to be listed on the NHS Choices website.
	Since 1 April 2008, all patients needing elective care are entitled to choose from any provider meeting the national health service eligibility criteria, which include clinical and financial standards. This includes NHS foundation trusts, NHS acute trusts and a large number of independent sector providers and their hospitals. The information provided on NHS Choices aims to support this choice by listing details of eligible providers and key comparison information.

NHS: Manpower

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much was spent on  (a) agency nurses,  (b) locum doctors and  (c) other agency staff by each NHS organisation incurring such expenditure in each year from 1997-98 to 2006-07.

Ann Keen: Information is available from 2001-02 for agency nursing including midwifery and health visiting staff, agency medical staff and other agency staff. This information has been placed in the Library.

NHS: Manpower

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people have been employed as  (a) doctors,  (b) nurses and  (c) administrative or clinical staff in (i) North Yorkshire and York Primary Care Trust and (ii) England in each year since 1997; and how many were employed on a (A) permanent and (B) part-time basis.

Ann Keen: North Yorkshire and York primary care trust (PCT) was not in existence prior to 2002. It is not possible to map back prior to this as the organisation did not exist, even in another form.
	A table which shows the staffing numbers from 2002 for the PCT and the numbers for England in each year since 1997 has been placed in the Library.

NHS: Training

Paul Rowen: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many applicants there were for student means-tested NHS bursaries in each of the last five years;
	(2)  how many student applicants have been refused means-tested NHS bursaries in each of the last five years.

Ann Keen: Information on the number of applicants for the means-tested NHS bursary is not held centrally and is currently not available from the NHS Business Services Authority. The NHS Business Services Authority does not hold information about how many students have been refused a means-tested NHS bursary.
	The NHS Business Services Authority has provided the following information about the number of means-tested NHS bursaries, which were assessed in each of the last five academic years.
	
		
			  Academic year  Number of student means-tested NHS bursaries assessed 
			 2003-04 31,044 
			 2004-05 34,083 
			 2005-06 37,197 
			 2006-07 39,657 
			 2007-08 41,310

Nurses: Pay

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will place in the Library copies of comments made in an official capacity by  (a) his Chief Nursing Officer,  (b) his Director General of Workforce and  (c) the NHS Chief Executive on the 2006-07 pay settlement for nurses in the NHS.

Ann Keen: We are not aware of any official comments made by the chief nursing officer, the director general of Workforce or the NHS chief executive, David Nicholson regarding the 2006-07 pay settlement for nurses in the NHS.

Nurses: Schools

Howard Stoate: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress is being made towards achieving his Department's target set out in the 2004 White Paper, Choosing Health, of ensuring that there is at least one full-time, qualified school nurse working with each cluster or group of primary schools in England.

Ann Keen: Linking primary schools to their nearest secondary school gives 3,300 clusters in England. The 2007 workforce census showed there were 3,162 (2,232 full-time equivalent) qualified nurses working in school health services, an increase of 753 or 31.25 per cent. since 2004. Of these, there were 1,227 (893 whole-time equivalent) nurses with the post registration school nurse qualification. This is an increase of 371 or 43.3 per cent, since 2004. In addition, the number of nurses working in the community increased by 28,235 (37 per cent.) between 1997 and 2007.

Obesity: Children

Mark Hunter: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of children under the age of 16 years who are clinically obese in  (a) England,  (b) the North West,  (c) the Stockport Primary Care Trust area and  (d) Cheadle constituency.

Dawn Primarolo: The information requested is not available in the format requested. Figures by constituency are not available.
	Information on the proportion of children aged two to 15 that are obese in England and broken down by Government office region and strategic health authority (SHA) is collected in the Health Survey for England.
	This information can be found in Health Survey for England 2006: Volume 2 Obesity and other risk factors in children, tables 2.2 and 2.3 on pages 35 and 36 which was published on 31 January 2008. This publication is available in the Library.
	Information on the proportion of children that are obese in England, the North West Strategic Health Authority and Stockport Primary Care Trust (PCT) is collected through the National Child Measurement Programme (NCMP). The NCMP report provides high-level analysis of the prevalence of obese children, in reception year (aged four to five years) and year 6 (aged 10-11 years), measured in England in the school year 2007-08.
	This information is available in the National Child Measurement Programme 2007/08 school year headline results which was published on 11 December 2008. The prevalence of obese children in England is shown in table i (page 4). The prevalence of obese children at PCT level can be found in annex 1: Detailed tables, table A (pages 31-32) and the prevalence of obese children at SHA level can be found in table B (page 33). This publication has been placed in the Library.

Pharmacy

Robert Syms: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the benefits and disbenefits which multiple dispensing licences have for dispensing appliance contractors under  (a) the current on-cost system and  (b) the system of remuneration proposed by his Department.

Phil Hope: Consultation on a number of proposals for legislative and structural reform to NHS pharmaceutical services arising from the White Paper Pharmacy in England: Building on strengthsdelivering the future was launched on 27 August 2008. It ended on the 20 November 2008.
	The consultation included options to reform market entry arrangements for dispensing appliance contractors. An impact assessment containing the Department's assessment of possible costs and benefits was published alongside the consultation on which views and comments were invited. Responses are being analysed. We will come forward with decisions once we have fully considered these and what, if any, action is appropriate. A copy of the impact assessment that accompanied the consultation has been placed in the Library.

Prescriptions: Fees and Charges

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health with reference to page 116 of the 2008 Pre-Budget Report, Cm 7484, whether his plans to provide free prescriptions for everyone with long-term conditions will be paid for from the planned 550 million savings in the cost of the Pharmaceutical Price Regulation Scheme.

Dawn Primarolo: We have asked the President of the Royal College of Physicians (Professor Ian Gilmore) to carry out a review of prescription charges that will consider how to implement the commitment to exempt patients with long-term conditions from prescription charges. The review will take into account the views of patients, the public, patient representative bodies, clinicians and health care organisations and is due to make its recommendations to departmental Ministers in summer 2009. Following this, the Government will decide how exemption from charging can best be phased in, including how the proposed changes can be funded. The expectation is that savings in the drugs budget achieved through the new Pharmaceutical Price Regulation Scheme agreement will help fund the new exemption.

Teenage Pregnancy

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to reduce the conception rate among those under the age of 18.

Beverley Hughes: I have been asked to reply.
	Since the Teenage Pregnancy Strategy was launched in 1999, there has been a steady decline in the under-18 conception rate. Latest annual data (2006) show a rate of 40.6 conceptions per 1,000 females aged 15 to 17, a fall of 12.9 per cent. from the 1998 baseline rate. The 2006 under-18 conception rate is the lowest for over 20 years.
	Tackling England's high rate of teenage pregnancy rates remains a Government priority and we are determined to reduce rates further, using the lessons from local areas where rates have fallen fastest to drive progress. At a national level, the key focus will be on:
	strong performance management of the minority of local areas where rates are static or increasing;
	using new funding from the Department of Health to improve sexually active teenagers' access to effective contraception;
	implementing the recommendations from the recent review of sex and relationships education (SRE) in schools; and
	strengthening our communications to young people and parents.

Thalidomide: Compensation

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions he has had with Chemie Grunethal on obtaining compensation for British victims of thalidomide.

Dawn Primarolo: Ministers have not met with representatives of Chemie Grunethal. A private compensation settlement was agreed with Distillers, now part of Diageo plc, the company that marketed the drug in the United Kingdom, and the Thalidomide Trust, the charitable trust established to administer annual payments to victims.

SOLICITOR-GENERAL

Corruption

Norman Lamb: To ask the Solicitor-General how many cases relating to allegations of corruption overseas are being processed by the Attorney-General's Office.

Vera Baird: The Attorney-General's Office is not currently considering any applications for consent to prosecute allegations of overseas corruption.

Departmental Disabled Staff

Mark Harper: To ask the Solicitor-General what conclusions the Law Officers' Departments have reached in fulfilment of their duty under section 3.111 of the statutory code of practice of the disability equality duty.

Vera Baird: The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) published a single equality scheme encompassing its disability equality scheme in December 2006. This scheme was significantly informed by involvement of disabled staff and community stakeholders. The scheme has been actively implemented since then. CPS accounts for delivery of the scheme through a national Community Accountability Forum, which includes both disabled staff and disabled community stakeholders.
	The CPS has published an annual public report on its progress in implementing the scheme including the action plans. The CPS Community Accountability Forum (including disabled members of the forum) were consulted on this annual report. The report, which is available on the CPS website, identifies significant progress in implementation of the disability equality duty to date.
	Revenue and Customs Prosecutions Office (RCPO) has recently published a single equality scheme and action plan that incorporates the disability duty. An Equality and Diversity Committee chaired by a non-executive director is responsible for ensuring that targets set in the equality action plan are complied with. The committee reports directly to the RCPO Board.
	In the past year RCPO has made good progress and in June 2008 obtained the two tick's accreditation, which is a positive action scheme that guarantees an interview for disabled candidates who meet the minimum criteria for an advertised post. The new action plan also carries forward a target from an earlier action plan for all RCPO staff to be provided training on equality and diversity, which will include disability equality.
	In addition, RCPO is currently carrying out impact assessments of its policies and functions to ensure compliance with its duties under equality legislation, including disability discrimination legislation.
	The Treasury Solicitor's Department (TSol) will shortly publish a review of its disability equality scheme, including updates of all local divisional assessments which are relevant to the duty. Actions taken to eliminate discrimination and promote equality include:
	The conduct of an increasing number of equality impact assessments to disability equality proof TSol projects and policies;
	Provision of documents in non-standard format by the public facing Bona Vacantia Division on request;
	Increased awareness raising of disability issues in diversity and other training, including the introduction of specific training on deaf and visual awareness;
	Increased provision of disability adjustments for individuals during the recruitment processes;
	Increased provision of disability assessments and adjustments for staff employed by the Department, including adjustments for conditions such as dyslexia, and some assessments for staff working at home.
	TSol has gathered evidence from all parts of its business, with each division reviewing its initial assessment under the disability equality scheme. The provision of legal services does not fall under the equality duty. All parts of the Department which carry out other functions which are relevant to the duty are taking actions to promote equality in their area, including those detailed above.
	TSol is compiling the information gathered from its Disability Equality Review into a progress report which it will publish on its website in early 2009. The Diversity and Equality Group will continue to monitor progress against these assessments, consider what more we need to do to eliminate discrimination and promote equality and produce a further update report annually.
	HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate (HMCPSI) workforce profile including the disability status of its staff is reported on annually in the chief inspector's annual report which can be found on our website.
	HMCPSI has an equality scheme covering all strands of HMCPSI's equality duties.
	As part of its action plan to meet its duties HMCPSI has made clear in all its recruitment literature its commitment to identify any reasonable adjustments at the earliest opportunity and to put them in place promptly. Reasonable adjustments have been made for staff where necessary.
	HMCPSI has recently reviewed its HR policies, and their application will be monitored over the coming year to ensure it is meeting all its statutory duties.
	HMCPSI is in the process of commissioning a disability audit of its London premises.
	The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) will shortly be publishing its annual report in respect of its disability equality duty. Actions taken by the SFO to eliminate discrimination and promote equality include:
	appointment of a diversity champion, whose role is to oversee the implementation of all diversity policies;
	compulsory attendance by all staff of a respect and diversity course, which seeks to raise staff awareness of the SFO's dignity at work policy;
	formation of an equality and diversity committee, which meets quarterly to discuss issues of equality and diversity across the organisation;
	identification and development of a stakeholder relationship with Tower Hamlets council, which achieved beacon status within the equality standard for local government framework, the SFO uses this resource for advice and guidance on all areas of diversity and equality;
	conducting meaningful and thorough equality impact assessments;
	providing on-going staff engagement and support for all disability issues, as well as the day-to-day support offered to its staff (e.g. workstation risk assessments), the SFO specifically consults with disabled people within the office to ensure that provisions for staff with disabilities are continually under review;
	hosting of bi-annual diversity networking events to increase awareness of minority groups within the organisation;
	the SFO's website meets the Government's standard for web accessibility in relation to visually impaired users, we are currently developing a standard paragraph in our outgoing correspondence which makes reference to any special requirements that the recipient may have (e.g. Braille or need for larger font types).
	The SFO is currently undergoing a major transformation programme, and the director has pledged to make equality and diversity central to all policy and strategy decisions.

Energy Financing Team: Corruption

Norman Lamb: To ask the Solicitor-General what factors the Attorney-General is taking into account in considering whether to consent to the Serious Fraud Office bringing charges against Energy Financing Team for alleged overseas corruption offences in Serbia.

Vera Baird: This case concluded in June 2008. The Director of the Serious Fraud Office concluded that a prosecution was not justified in this case. In considering whether to grant her consent to any prosecution, the Attorney-General applies well known prosecutorial principles in accordance with the Code for Crown Prosecutors. In cases of overseas corruption, the Attorney-General abides by Article 5 of the OECD Convention.

Energy Financing Team: Corruption

Norman Lamb: To ask the Solicitor-General what discussions the Attorney-General has had with Government departments; and what representations she has received from others on whether to consent to the bringing of charges against Energy Financing Team for alleged overseas corruption offences in Serbia.

Vera Baird: The Attorney-General did not reach a decision on whether or not to consent to a prosecution of EFT because, in the event, the director of the SFO concluded on 2 June 2008 that a prosecution was not justified. The only discussions that the Attorney-General had in relation to the case were with the SFO, and the only representations that she received were from the SFO.

Energy Financing Team: Corruption

Norman Lamb: To ask the Solicitor-General when the investigation into the activities of Energy Financing Team in Serbia will be concluded; on what date the case was referred to the Serious Fraud Office; and on what date the Serious Fraud Office passed its report to the Attorney-General.

Vera Baird: The case was accepted for domestic investigation by the SFO on 7 July 2004. The former director of the SFO, Robert Wardle, submitted a request to the Attorney-General for consent to proceed with the prosecution on 12 September 2007. The current director of the SFO, Richard Alderman, made the decision to discontinue the investigation into EFT on 2 June 2008.

Revenue and Customs Prosecutions Office: Pay

Mark Hoban: To ask the Solicitor-General what salary was paid to the  (a) director and  (b) chief operating officer of HM Revenue and Customs Prosecutions Office in 2006-07.

Vera Baird: The Revenue and Customs Prosecutions Office (RCPO) was established as an independent prosecuting authority in April 2005, and is superintended by the Attorney-General. It is a separate Government Department from HM Revenue and Customs.
	Details of the salaries of the director and chief operating officer of RCPO in 2006-07 are in the public domain, having been published in the Department's Resource Accounts for 2006-07. Their salaries were 195,000 to 200,000 and 90,000 to 95,000 respectively.

BUSINESS, ENTERPRISE AND REGULATORY REFORM

Arbitration: Religion

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform which Islamic tribunals have authority to act under the Arbitration Act 1996.

Patrick McFadden: There is no specific provision in the Arbitration Act 1996 for Islamic Tribunals.
	The Act provides a framework for the fair, speedy and cost effective resolution of disputes by an impartial tribunal. The principle behind the Act is that parties should be free to agree how their dispute is resolved. To be governed by the Act the disputing parties have to agree in writing to authorise a third party to finally resolve their dispute. The Act allows all parties to agree to have their dispute decided by a set of principles of their choice rather than by national law. If there is no agreement by all parties then national law will apply.
	The Act sets out a number of safeguards including a duty to act fairly and reasonably between the parties, and giving each a reasonable opportunity of putting their case and dealing with that of their opponent. If there is a direct conflict with national law in the decision of a tribunal, national law prevails.
	The Muslim Arbitration Tribunals (MAT) was established in 2007 in order to provide an alternative route to resolve civil issues in accordance with Shari'ah principles. The MAT operates according to the principles of the Arbitration Act 1996.

Bankruptcy

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many businesses have gone bankrupt in each of the last three years.

Patrick McFadden: The following table records numbers of trading-related bankruptcies and company liquidations in England and Wales in each year full since 2005:
	
		
			   Bankruptcy orders for self-employed individuals( 1)  Company liquidations( 2) 
			 2005 10,839 12,893 
			 2006 10,894 13,137 
			 2007 7,058 12,507 
			 (1) It should be noted that figures from the 4th quarter of 2006 onwards are based on a revised classification.  (2) Companies do not go bankrupt; they are the subject of a liquidation or other insolvency procedure. However, company liquidations are provided to supplement the individual bankruptcy information.

Bankruptcy

Justine Greening: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many people were declared bankrupt in each year since 2004-05, broken down by those aged  (a) under 20,  (b) 21 to 26,  (c) 25 to 30,  (d) 31 to 35,  (e) 36 to 40 and  (f) over 41 years old; and what estimate he has made of the number in each category which will be declared bankrupt in 2008-09.

Patrick McFadden: holding answer 10 December 2008
	In the time available, the only information available is that extracted from already published reports. The statistics on the following page are taken from the report Profiles of Bankrupts and Companies in Liquidation: 2004-05 to 2006-07(1) and relate to England and Wales only. Equivalent information is in the process of being compiled for 2007-08, to be published in spring 2009. Official forecasts of bankruptcy numbers broken down by age groups are not undertaken; therefore no estimates are available for 2008-09.
	(1)http://www.insolvency.gov.uk/insolvencyprofessionandlegislation/policychange/profiles2004-7/profileBandC2004-7.htm
	Date of birth is recorded in the majority of bankruptcy cases and may be used to calculate the age at which an individual is declared bankrupt. Bespoke analyses by specified age groups can be scheduled and carried out, but it should be noted that the age groupings requested here are not standard age bands that would be routinely published for any official statistics relating to individuals.
	
		
			  Number of bankruptcy orders by age group England and Wales 
			   No age recorded  Total all ages (where recorded)  18 to 29  30 to 39  40 to 49  50 to 59  60 to 69  70 and over 
			 2003-4 1,730 27,949 5,255 9,453 7,229 4,226 1,451 335 
			 2004-5 2,105 35,414 7,112 11,558 8,932 5,426 1,943 443 
			 2005-6 2,498 51,068 10,297 15,771 13,389 7,859 3,010 742

Business for New Europe

Norman Baker: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what work has been commissioned from Business for New Europe by his Department since its inception; and at what cost.

Gareth Thomas: BERR and its predecessor DTI has cooperated with Business for New Europe (BNE) on EU events, as we have with other organisations interested in the EU, but has not commissioned any work from, or given any funding to, BNE.

Business: VAT

Andrew Turner: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what requirements there are on businesses to indicate the reduction in the price of their products made in consequence of the reduction of the rate of value added tax.

Gareth Thomas: The Price Marking Order 2004 requires traders, selling to consumers, to display a VAT inclusive selling price and, where appropriate, the unit price of goods in an unambiguous, easily identifiable and clearly legible way. Where there is a change in VAT, a trader may for a period of 14 days, give a general notice that a VAT adjustment has been made. Thereafter, in order to comply with the order, he must display the fully inclusive selling price taking account of the revised VAT level.

Charities

Mark Oaten: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform to which charities his Department has provided funding of 100,000 or more in each of the last three years; and how much was given to each charity.

Patrick McFadden: holding answer 10 December 2008
	The Department does not generally make charitable donations but may have given grants to charitable bodies through a number of our programmes, but the status of the organisations are not recorded. The Department, however, does provide grant-in-aid for operating purposes to the following organisations that are registered as charities. The organisations and amounts (where they are over 100,000) are as follows:
	
		
			   million 
			   Citizens Advice  Citizens Advice Scotland 
			 2005-06 23,855 3,240 
			 2006-07 21,470 2,916 
			 2007-08 21,470 3,016 
			 2008-09 21,470 3,389

Consumers: Super-Complaints

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what analysis his Department has conducted of the use of super-complaints.

Gareth Thomas: holding answer 11 December 2008
	 None have been conducted by the Department. Six super-complainants are currently designated and to date OFT has accepted nine super-complaints covering a range of markets, including care homes, doorstep selling, credit card interest calculation methods and private dentistry.

Departmental Contracts

Mark Hoban: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what contracts to which his Department is a party will continue beyond 1 July 2010.

Patrick McFadden: This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Disabled Staff

Mark Harper: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what conclusions his Department has reached in fulfilment of its duty under section 3.111 of the statutory code of practice of the disability equality duty.

Patrick McFadden: My right hon. and noble Friend the Secretary of State published his report on Disability Equality on 1 December 2008. This sets out the conclusions reached by his Department in fulfilment of its duty under the disability equality duty. It also includes progress on the actions promoting equality of opportunity as set out in the Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform's (BERR) Annual Report and Accounts 2007-2008.
	The Secretary of State's report can be accessed on the BERR website at:
	http://www.berr.gov.uk/aboutus/corporate/performance/how-we-work/equalityschemes/page35704.html.

Departmental Higher Education

Mark Hoban: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many staff in his Department undertook courses funded by the Department for  (a) undergraduate degrees,  (b) postgraduate degrees or diplomas,  (c) Masters degrees,  (d) MBA degrees and  (e) PhD degrees in the last 12 months, broken down by pay band.

Patrick McFadden: The Department has devolved the responsibility for funding of relevant courses leading to qualifications to each business area. Identification of the number of staff who have undertaken qualifications in the last 12 months in each pay band would be a disproportionate cost.

Insolvency

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many individuals were declared insolvent in each of the last five years; and how many have been registered as insolvent in the current financial year.

Patrick McFadden: The following table records the total number of individual insolvencies in each financial year since 2003-04 in England and Wales.
	
		
			  Financial year  Individual insolvencies( 1)  in England and Wales 
			 2003-04 37,843 
			 2004-05 49,175 
			 2005-06 78,333 
			 2006-07 112,585 
			 2007-08 102,028 
			 2008-09(2) 53,454 
			 (1) Including bankruptcy orders and individual voluntary arrangements (IVAs). (2) Insolvency data for the current financial year are only available up to September 2008.

Insolvency: Hotels

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many hotels went into  (a) compulsory and  (b) voluntary (i) administration and (ii) liquidation in each region of England and Wales in each of the last five years.

Patrick McFadden: Statistics are only available from Q3 2007 on a consistent basis and no sub-national information is available for hotels. The following table records the number of hotels that have entered into compulsory liquidation, creditors' voluntary liquidation or administration in each quarter since 2007 Q3 in England and Wales as a whole.
	
		
			  Insolvency procedure  2007 Q3  2007 Q4  2008  Q1  2008 Q2  2008 Q3 
			 Compulsory liquidation 6 8 7 12 n/a 
			 Creditors' voluntary liquidation 10 8 3 11 13 
			 Administration 0 4 8 5 2 
			  Note: 1. There have been changes over recent years to the classification and extent of sectoral information collected and analysed. Consistent data are only readily available on a quarterly basis from 2007 Q3. 2. Industry-level data are not currently available on a regional basis. 3. Data for compulsory liquidations for 2008 Q3 are not yet available. 4. Companies may enter consecutively into more than one type of insolvency procedure. For example, an establishment may enter into administration, but subsequently become the subject of a creditors' voluntary liquidation. This means that counts should not be summed to a total number of company insolvencies in the sector. 5. Figures for corporate receiverships, and for small business bankruptcies among hotel proprietors are not included in the above figures.

Low Pay

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what recent estimate he has made of the number of people who are paid at a rate below the national minimum wage in  (a) the UK,  (b) the North East,  (c) Tees Valley district and  (d) Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland constituency.

Patrick McFadden: Information on earnings is taken from the ONS' Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE) dataset for 2008. Information for local authority level and individual parliamentary constituencies is not readily available in the ASHE dataset. However, information is available on a government office region basis and for the UK.
	 (a) The ONS estimates that around 288,000 jobs are paid below the National Minimum Wage (NMW) rates (3.40/4.60/5.52) in the UK in 2007-08.
	 (b) In the North East, around 20,000 jobs are paid below the NMW rates.
	These estimates do not measure non-compliance because some employees, undergoing certain apprenticeships and training, are either exempt or legitimately have lower rates.

Members' Interests

Francis Maude: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform with reference to the answer to the hon. Member for Carmarthen East and Dinefwr (Adam Price) of 10 November 2008,  Official Report, column 907W, on Members' interests, if he will place in the Library a copy of the declaration made by the Secretary of State to the Permanent Secretary of his Department.

Patrick McFadden: As stated in the Ministerial Code, the personal information which Ministers disclose to those who advise them is treated in confidence. However, an annual statement covering relevant Ministers' interests will be published.

Office of Fair Trading: Market Studies

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what the purpose is of the use of market studies by the Office of Fair Trading.

Patrick McFadden: Section 5 of the Enterprise Act 2002 gives the OFT the function of obtaining and reviewing information relating to any of its functions, both in respect of competition and consumer matters. This information-gathering role, which may involve research, is with a view to the OFT having the information it needs to make decisions and carry out its functions.
	Market studies were introduced by the OFT as a means of identifying and addressing all aspects of market failure, from competition issues to consumer detriment and the effect of Government regulations. Market studies can be either short (often fact-finding) or full.

Office of Fair Trading: Market Studies

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform whether an assessment has been made of the value for money offered by the market studies conducted by the Office of Fair Trading.

Gareth Thomas: No specific assessment has been made by the Department since the regime came into force. However, the overarching regulatory impact assessment prepared for the Enterprise Act 2002 said that the overall benefits of the measures in the Act would strengthen competitive pressures in the economy and improve consumer protection. The Office of Fair Trading has an evaluation programme which measures the impact of its interventions, which can be found at

http://www.oft.gov.uk/shared_oft/about_oft/oft862.pdf

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what proportion of market studies undertaken by the Office of Fair Trading since 2003 related to public sector operations.

Gareth Thomas: This is matter for the independent Office of Fair Trading. I have asked the Chief Executive to reply to the hon. Member directly.

Official Visits: Russia

Mark Hoban: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform which  (a) individuals and  (b) organisations Ministers met during the visit to Moscow between Monday 27 October and Wednesday 29 October 2008.

Gareth Thomas: My noble Friend the Secretary of State for Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform met the following individuals and organisations during his visit to Moscow between 27 October and Wednesday 29 October.
	Sergei Lavrov, Minister for Foreign Affairs
	Igor Shuvalov, First Deputy PM
	Alexsey Kudrin, Deputy PM and Finance Minister
	Arkadiy Dvorkovitch, Assistant of the President
	Anatoliy Chubais, CEO, RosNanoTech
	German Gref, CEO, Sberbank
	Aleksey Mordashov, General Director, Severstal
	Evgeniy Yasin, Rector, Higher School of Economics
	He also attended a number of events where he met multiple business representatives and organisations across a range of areas. These included British business investors in the Russian market, Russian and British representatives from the financial services industry; economic and political analysts, Russian SMEs, energy companies, academics and others.

Official Visits: Russia

Mark Hoban: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform who the members were of the business delegation supported by his Department that visited Moscow between 27 October and 29 October 2008.

Gareth Thomas: Members of the accompanying business delegation were:
	Richard Lambert, DG, CBI;
	Tim Eggar, Chair and President of the Russo-British Chamber of Commerce (RBCC);
	Alex Robinson, Executive Director, Aviva;
	Richard Spies, President, BP Russia;
	Robert Webb, General Counsel, BA;
	Scott Halliday, UK Managing Partner, Ernst and Young;
	Tim Burnhope, Deputy MD, JCB Sales;
	Tracey Pierce, Head of Equity Primary Markets, LSE;
	Simon Chivers, Country Manager, Mace Group;
	Peter Hambro, Hambro Mining;
	Maurice Topiol, Chairman, Rothschild Russia, NM Rothschild and Sons;
	Sir Philip Thomas, Senior Advisor, Shell;
	Reas Kondraschow, Group Development Director, Whitbread.

Post Offices

James Paice: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what estimate his Department has made of the number of  (a) post office branches and  (b) post office branches per head of population in England in (i) hamlets and isolated dwellings, (ii) villages, (iii) towns and fringe settlements and (iv) settlements of more than 10,000 inhabitants in each year since 1997.

Patrick McFadden: In 2007, in the context of a 1.7 billion funding package to support the post office network, the Government introduced minimum access criteria to maintain a national network of post offices and, in particular to protect vulnerable consumers in deprived urban, rural and remote areas. These access criteria apply nationally and are based on the proportion of the population within specified distances from the nearest post office outlet rather than on density per head of population.
	The Department does not hold data on the post office network analysed by country or region since 1997. I have therefore asked Alan Cook, the Managing Director of Post Office Ltd. to write direct to the hon. Member. Copies of the letter will be placed in the Libraries of the House.

Post Offices

Peter Lilley: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many complaints he has received about queues at post offices in each of the last three years.

Patrick McFadden: The Department does not hold this information in the form requested.

Post Offices

Peter Lilley: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform whether he has discussed queues at post offices with the management of Post Office Ltd.

Patrick McFadden: I have frequent discussions with the management of Post Office Ltd on a range of issues relating to the post office network, including queuing at post offices.

Trade Policy

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform whether UK Trade and Investment has changed its strategy in the light of the current world economic crisis.

Gareth Thomas: UK Trade and Investment keeps its strategy under review to ensure that it continues to add value for the economy and for business in an increasingly globalised and competitive world. Recent reviews have aimed to ensure that UKTI is providing the best possible support to help businesses through the current economic crisis.
	Recent UKTI measures announced:
	new funding rules for the Tradeshow Access Programme (TAP) announced on 7 November. The scheme supports more than 3,000 SMEs each year to exhibit at overseas trade fairs. The new rules, which will take effect from 1 April 2009, will double the maximum number of grants per company to six, as long as they are participating in tradeshows in more than one market;
	a new 1 million package of UKTI support to help UK companies of all sizes access manufacturing value chain opportunities in India and China, announced in the Government's Manufacturing Strategy in September 2008. The target is to help 600 businesses access opportunities through this new initiative;
	a new package of support to be launched by April 2009 and delivered in the English regions focused on helping innovative companies with export experience to increase their internationalisation capabilities;
	the creation of a Business Ambassadors network announced by the Prime Minister on 3 October. 17 leading figures from business and universities will work with UKTI to promote the UK's excellence internationally, highlight trade and investment opportunities and help SMEs to access global markets.

Yorkshire Forward: Finance

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what the operating costs of the regional development agency for Yorkshire, Yorkshire Forward were in the months of  (a) July,  (b) August,  (c) September and  (d) October 2008.

Patrick McFadden: Yorkshire Forward operating costs were as follows.
	
		
			   000 
			  (a) July 2008 1,742 
			  (b) August 2008 1,699 
			  (c) September 2008 1,685 
			  (d) October 2008 1,821

JUSTICE

Appeals: Incapacity Benefit

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many appeals have been lodged by claimants of incapacity benefit against a decision made to stop payment of the benefit in each of the last 11 years; how many such appeals were upheld in each year; and what the average time taken from an appeal being  (a) received and logged and  (b) logged and resolved was in each year.

Bridget Prentice: The Tribunals Service and the Department for Work and Pensions are currently collating this information. I will write to the hon. Member very soon and place a copy of this letter in the Libraries of the House.

Bradley Review

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice when he will publish  (a) the Bradley Review and  (b) his response to it.

David Hanson: The Government have not yet received Lord Bradley's report, but expect to do so early in the new year. On receipt, I will inform the House of the publication date as it is the intention to publish the report and Government response at the same time.

Burglary: Sentencing

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many individuals who have received a non-custodial sentence for burglary at Peterborough Crown Court since May 2005 had  (a) up to five,  (b) between six and nine,  (c) between 10 and 15 and  (d) more than 16 previous convictions; and if he will make a statement.

Maria Eagle: Between May 2005 and December 2007 (the latest date for which data are available) 34 non-custodial sentences (including any fines, community sentences, discharges and otherwise dealt with) were imposed by the Crown court in Peterborough for burglary. Data on the numbers of previous convictions are not available at court or regional level.
	These figures have been drawn from administrative data systems. Although care is taken when processing and analysing the returns, the detail collected is subject to the inaccuracies inherent in any large scale recording system.

Cannabis: Crime

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice when the Penalty Notice for Disorder for cannabis possession will come into force.

Maria Eagle: The Penalty Notice for Disorder (PND) for possession of Class B drug (cannabis) will come into force in early 2009, subject to parliamentary approval.
	Offences are added to the PND Scheme by means of secondary legislation subject to the affirmative resolution procedure.

Children: Maintenance

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  how many consent orders for child maintenance have passed through the courts in each of the last 10 years;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the likely change in the number of consent orders that will go through the courts for child maintenance, following repeal of section 6 of the Child Support Act 1991.

Bridget Prentice: Information on the number of consent orders for child maintenance made by the courts is not held centrally. Statistics on disposal of applications for ancillary relief are published annually in Chapter 5 of Judicial and Court Statistics, copies of which are available in the House of Commons Library.
	Analysis from the Families and Children Study 2004 showed that for 4 per cent. of parents who are eligible to receive child maintenance, the child maintenance arrangement was through a Consent Order at court. It was also possible for parents to make maintenance arrangements via the Child Support Agency or via private settlement, or to have no formal arrangements at all.
	It has been estimated that an additional 7,500 to 9,500 cases may come to the courts each year to agree child maintenance, as a result of repeal of section 6 of the Child Support Act 1991.

Criminal Injuries Compensation Appeals Panel: Finance

Jeffrey M Donaldson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the estimated resource expenditure is of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Appeals Panel in the current three year Comprehensive Spending Review period.

Maria Eagle: The Criminal Injuries Compensation Appeals Panel has a resource budget allocation of 767,000/790,000/814,000 for the CSR 07 period covering the financial years 2008-09; 2009-10; and 2010-11.

Departmental Higher Education

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many staff in his Department undertook courses funded by the Department for  (a) undergraduate degrees,  (b) postgraduate degrees or diplomas,  (c) Masters degrees,  (d) MBA degrees and  (e) PhD degrees in the last 12 months, broken down by pay band.

Michael Wills: The Ministry of Justice has supported 150 staff to work towards qualifications in the last 12 months. A full breakdown of the numbers and grades is set out in the following table.
	
		
			   Number 
			  Undergraduate  
			 Senior Managers 2 
			 Band D-F 75 
			 Managers G-F 4 
			 Principal Officer 3 
			 Senior Officer 3 
			 Officer 3 
			 Psychology Assistant 1 
			 Administrative Officer 1 
			 Total staff funded 92 
			   
			  Postgraduate  
			 Managers G-E 3 
			 MOJ Band D-F 5 
			 Pharmacist D 1 
			 Senior Officer 1 
			 Executive Officer 1 
			 Psychology Assistant 2 
			 Total staff funded 13 
			   
			  Masters  
			 Senior Managers 1 
			 Managers G-E 9 
			 Chaplain 1 
			 Nurse 1 
			 Trainee Psychologist 2 
			 Principal Officer 1 
			 Officer 1 
			 Band D 2 
			 Psychology Assistant 9 
			 Total staff funded 27 
			   
			  MBA  
			 SCS 1 
			 Senior Managers 2 
			 Managers G-E 4 
			 Senior Officer 1 
			 Total staff funded 8 
			   
			  PhD  
			 Senior Managers 1 
			 Forensic Psychologist 1 
			 Managers G-E 5 
			 Chaplain 3 
			 Total staff funded 10

Driving Offences: Fines

David Burrowes: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what proportion of foreign drivers did not pay fines for motoring offences in  (a) 2006,  (b) 2007 and  (c) the last 12 months.

Maria Eagle: Financial penalties for motoring offences can take the form of a fixed penalty notice offered by the police or a fine imposed by the courts.
	Information held centrally by the Home Office on fixed penalty notices issued by the police, and the Court Proceedings Database, held by the Office for Criminal Justice Reform, does not identify the nationality status of drivers issued with a financial penalty.

Freedom of Information Act 2000

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what progress he has made in his review of the application of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 to private sector bodies delivering public services; and if he will make a statement.

Jack Straw: The Government continue to assess the merits of designating additional public authorities under the Act and will publish their response to the Section 5 public consultation in due course.

Gifts

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many staff members in his Department have received gifts valued at 100 or higher in the course of their duties in each of the last three years; what these gifts were; and from whom they were received.

Michael Wills: This information could be provided across the Ministry only at disproportionate cost as the information is maintained locally in many separate locations.
	The Ministry of Justice has a Departmental wide Gifts and Hospitality Policy. This requires managers in all parts of the Department to maintain a gifts and hospitality register and ensure that all instances of offers (accepted or declined) are recorded. The policy also requires that a gift can only be accepted in exceptional circumstances and even then it must be modest and appropriate.

Government Departments: Information and Communications Technology

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice with reference to the answer of 4 November 2008,  Official Report, columns 336-7W, on Government departments: information and communications technology, which IP addresses are used by  (a) his Department and  (b) computers in the offices of its (i) Ministers, (ii) communications officials and (iii) special advisers.

Maria Eagle: To help defend against electronic attack, it is standard good information security practice for corporate IT systems not to publish internal IP addresses. When accessing internet websites, the IP addresses of all of the computers on the Ministry of Justice's internal office IT system are hidden behind the following IP addresses which are publicly available195.92.40.49 and 62.25.106.209. These IP addresses are shared with other Government departments that use the Government Secure Intranet.

Judicial Appointments Commission: Finance

Jeffrey M Donaldson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the estimated resource expenditure is of the Judicial Appointments Commission in the current three year Comprehensive Spending Review period.

Bridget Prentice: The Northern Ireland Judicial Appointments Commission has a resource budget allocation of 1.6 million for the 2008-09 financial year. Funding Plans for 2009-10 and 2010-11 have not yet been settled.

Judicial Appointments Ombudsman: Finance

Jeffrey M Donaldson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the estimated resource expenditure is of the Judicial Appointments Ombudsman in the current three-year comprehensive spending review period.

Bridget Prentice: The office of the Northern Ireland Judicial Appointments Ombudsman has a resource budget allocation of 125,000 for the 2008-09 financial year. Funding plans for 2009-10 and 2010-11 have not yet been settled.

Misconduct in Public Office

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many people were  (a) prosecuted and  (b) convicted for the offence of misconduct in public office in each of the last 10 years.

Jack Straw: The information requested is only contained on paper records. While analysing the information available to my Department, questions have arisen with regard to the quality and validity of the data, including that given in an answer to the hon. Member for Fareham (Mr. Hoban) on 21 April 2008,  Official Report, column 896W. The Office for Criminal Justice Reform is investigating this information, where possible, with the individual courts. I will write and place a copy of the letter in the Libraries of the House once these investigations are complete. If appropriate I will issue a correction statement.

Northern Ireland Court Service: Finance

Jeffrey M Donaldson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the estimated resource expenditure is of the Northern Ireland Court Service in the current three year comprehensive spending review period.

Bridget Prentice: The Northern Ireland Court Service has a resource budget allocation of 133 million/132 million/132 million for the CSR 07 period covering the financial years 2008-09, 2009-10, and 2010-11.

Northern Ireland Legal Services Commission: Finance

Jeffrey M Donaldson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the estimated resource expenditure is of the Northern Ireland Legal Services Commission in the current three-year comprehensive spending review period.

Bridget Prentice: The Northern Ireland Legal Services Commission has a resource budget allocation of 65 million per annum for the CSR 07 period covering the financial years 2008-09, 2009-10, and 2010-11.

Offenders: Foreigners

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many  (a) adult and  (b) young offender prisoners whose nationality is unknown are being held in prison beyond the expiration of their sentence.

Maria Eagle: On Monday 8 December 2008, there were 543 prisoners being held beyond the expiration of their sentence under immigration powers. There is currently one male adult prisoner whose nationality is yet to be confirmed.

Political Parties: Finance

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice with reference to the answer of 6 November 2008,  Official Report, column 751W, on political parties: finance, whether it is proposed that expenditure incurred by an hon. Member outside a general election period funded by party funds which disparages an individual who is  (a) an untriggered prospective parliamentary candidate and  (b) a triggered parliamentary candidate for the same constituency should trigger the election expenses of the hon. Member for the purposes of the new rules.

Michael Wills: Under the proposals contained in clause 11 (election expenses incurred for a person not yet a candidate) of the Political Parties and Elections Bill, all expenditure incurred by or on behalf of the candidate on matters listed in Part 1 of schedule 4A of the Representation of the People Act 1983, which is used for the purposes of the candidate's election, will constitute election expenses regulated by the candidate spending limit. For the purposes of this clause, incumbent MPs are treated in exactly the same way as other candidates. Expenditure would only be regulated by the candidate expenditure limit where it meets these conditions.
	Section 90ZA(6) of the Representation of the People Act 1983 makes clear that in that Part of that Act any reference (in whatever terms) to promoting or procuring a candidate's election at the election includes doing so by prejudicing the electoral prospects of another candidate at the election.
	Clause 11(4) of the Political Parties and Elections Bill inserts a new section 90ZA(5) into the 1983 Act, which provides that, in relation to election expenses, any reference in Part 2 of that Act to a candidate at an election, includes (where the context allows) a reference to a person who formally becomes a candidate at the election after the expenses are incurred.
	Therefore, under the proposals contained in the Bill, expenditure which is used by candidates at the election, including spending which prejudices the electoral prospects of an individual who is or who later becomes a candidate at the election, will constitute an election expense, provided it is incurred on matters listed in Part 1 of Schedule 4A of the 1983 Act. It is immaterial whether such expenditure has been funded by party funds or other means.

Political Parties: Finance

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice with reference to the impact assessment produced for the new trigger rules for election spending, what estimate has been made of  (a) the change in the number of candidates in general elections and  (b) the likely number of (i) pre-trigger prospective candidates and (ii) triggered candidates that would be regulated by the new rules.

Michael Wills: The final Impact Assessment for controls on candidate spending referred to the number of closely contested seats at the last general election, in 2005. That was on the basis that it might be inferred that a similar number of seats might be closely contested at a future general election and, as the Impact Assessment noted, it might be said that the proposals in clause 11 of the Bill would be:
	most likely to affect candidates in marginal seats, as that is where early campaigning tends to be focused.
	Because of the unique character of each election, It has not been possible to calculate the exact number of candidates that might be affected in future.
	All candidates standing at a general election would be regulated by the new rules, which provide that all expenditure used by or on behalf of the candidate on matters listed in Part 1 of Schedule 4A of the Representation of the People Act 1983, which are used for the purposes of the candidate's election, are regulated by the candidate spending limit. The person's formal candidature status (whether adopted as a candidate or not) does not determine whether or not the expenditure is regulated. The purpose for which expenditure is used will be the key consideration.

Political Parties: Finance

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice with reference to the answer of 6 November 2008,  Official Report, column 751W, on political parties: finance, whether it is proposed that money spent before a person becomes a triggered candidate shall count against the aggregate candidate spending limit if the goods or services purchased are used after the persons becomes a triggered candidate.

Michael Wills: Clause 11 (election expenses incurred by a person not yet a candidate) of the Political Parties and Elections Bill amends the definition of election expenses in section 90ZA of the Representation of the People Act 1983. Under the amended section all expenditure incurred by or on behalf of the candidate on matters listed in part 1 of schedule 4A of the Representation of the People Act 1983, which is used for the purposes of the candidate's election, will be regulated, regardless of when that expenditure is incurred. There is express provision in the Bill (in clause 11(5)) to make clear that the amendments made by that section do not apply to any expenses incurred before the commencement of that section
	Therefore the status of an individual and the question of whether they have previously incurred election expenses by triggering the provisions in section 90ZA of the Representation of the People Act 1983 does not determine whether any expenditure counts towards the candidate's spending limit. The purpose for which the expenditure is used is the decisive factorany expenditure which falls within the definition in 90ZA will be regulated by the candidate's spending limit, and subsequent expenditure captured by the definition should be aggregated and reported in line with the statutory requirements.

Political Parties: Finance

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  in what circumstances he envisages that hon. Members will trigger their own candidate spending limits prior to the calling of a general election under the proposed new trigger rules;
	(2)  whether it is his policy that spending by hon. Members on promoting themselves using funds other than the public purse, outside a general election period, should be considered to be promoting or initiating their candidature for the purposes of the new trigger rules on election spending.

Michael Wills: Hon. Members of this House would be treated no differently than any other individuals campaigning for election as a candidate under section 90ZA of the Representation of the People Act 1983 as amended by clause 11 (election expenses incurred for a person not yet a candidate) of the Political Parties and Elections Bill.
	Amended section 90ZA will provide that all expenditure (whether before or after the calling of a general election) incurred by or on behalf of a candidate on matters listed in part 1 of schedule 4A of the Representation of the People Act 1983, which is used for the purposes of the candidate's election, will be regulated by the candidate spending limit. Expenditure is therefore regulated if it meets these conditions. The source of the funds is immaterial.

Prisoners

David Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many prisoners currently serving sentences in Her Majesty's prisons are beyond their original or adjusted tariff; and of these, how many are maintaining innocence of the crime for which they were convicted.

Maria Eagle: On 8 December 2008, there were 3,867 indeterminate sentenced prisoners in custody recorded as being beyond their original or adjusted tariff.
	This figure is taken from the Public Protection Unit Database (PPUD) within the National Offender Management Service. As with any large scale recording system, it is subject to possible errors arising from either data entry or processing.
	No central recording of prisoners maintaining innocence is maintained. To establish how many prisoners are beyond their original and adjusted tariff and maintaining their innocence would require a manual checking of individual records, which could be carried out only at disproportionate cost.

Prisoners On Remand

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many prisoners are on remand in prisons in England and Wales, broken down by  (a) offence and  (b) sex.

David Hanson: The following table gives figures for all prison establishments in England and Wales showing numbers on remand by  (a) offence and  (b) sex at end October 2008.
	
		
			   Remand 
			 All prisoners 13,598 
			 Violence against the person 3,456 
			 Sexual offences 950 
			 Robbery 1,431 
			 Burglary 1,524 
			 Theft and Handling 1,046 
			 Fraud and Forgery 506 
			 Drug offences 1,779 
			 Motoring offences 131 
			 Other offences 1,980 
			 Offence not recorded 795 
			   
			 All male prisoners 12,680 
			 Violence against the person 3,263 
			 Sexual offences 938 
			 Robbery 1,373 
			 Burglary 1,466 
			 Theft and Handling 914 
			 Fraud and Forgery 424 
			 Drug offences 1,623 
			 Motoring offences 130 
			 Other offences 1,835 
			 Offence not recorded 713 
			   
			 All female prisoners 918 
			 Violence against the person 194 
			 Sexual offences 12 
			 Robbery 58 
			 Burglary 59 
			 Theft and Handling 132 
			 Fraud and Forgery 82 
			 Drug offences 155 
			 Motoring offences 1 
			 Other offences 145 
			 Offence not recorded 82 
		
	
	These figures are taken from table 2 of the October 2008 Ministry of Justice monthly briefing to be found at the following website:
	http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/populationincustody.htm
	These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems, which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.

Prisons: Children

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many children were born in prisons in each prison in England and Wales in each year since 1997.

Maria Eagle: Women in prison have a right to the same medical provision as women in the community and do not give birth in prison as a matter of course.
	The number of babies born to women committed to prison service custody since November 2006, when the Prison Service began collecting the relevant information centrally, are as follows:
	
		
			  Establishment  MBU p laces  2006-07  2007-08  2008-09( 1) 
			 Askham Grange 10 0 3 1 
			 Bronzefield 12 7 18 7 
			 Cookham Wood (2) 0 0 (3)n/a 
			 Downview (2) 2 0 0 
			 Drake Hall (2) 1 0 0 
			 East Sutton Park (2) 0 0 0 
			 Eastwood Park 12 3 21 0 
			 Foston Hall (2) 0 2 1 
			 Holloway 13 5 35 7 
			 Low Newton (2) 3 4 3 
			 Morton Hall (2) 0 0 0 
			 New Hall 9 3 2 7 
			 Peterborough 12 8 11 4 
			 Send (2) 0 0 0 
			 Styal 7 5 6 4 
			 Total 75 37 102 34 
			 (1) April to November 2008. (2) No Mother and Baby Unit at these establishments. (3) Changed function to male juvenile establishment in 2007.

Prisons: Children

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many children were being held with their mothers in prisons in England and Wales on the latest date for which figures are available.

Maria Eagle: As of 30 November 2008 there were 50 children living with their mothers in a Mother and Baby Unit (MBU) within a women's prison. They may stay in an MBU until the age of up to 18 months (depending on the individual circumstances), although there is room for flexibility in the best interests of the child, which may mean a child staying in an MBU until two years of age. They are then gradually integrated into the care of approved family or carers in the community. This could include social services where no suitable carer exists.

Prisons: Electronic Surveillance

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice with reference to the answer of 21 July 2008, Official Report, column 910W, on prisons: electronic surveillance, whether the Wilson doctrine applies 
	(1)  to telephone interception and the use of electronic surveillance by the police; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  to data on the hard drive of hon. Members' computers; and if he will make a statement.

Jack Straw: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister to the hon. Member for Lancaster and Wyre (Mr. Wallace) on 12 September 2007,  Official Report, column 2103W.
	The Wilson Doctrine applies to all forms of interception that are subject to authorisation by Secretary of State warrant.

Public Records: Access

Eleanor Laing: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what arrangements are in place for those without internet facilities to gain access to records held in the Public Record Office.

Michael Wills: Public records that have been transferred to The National Archives, the Government's official archive, are available to view free of charge in its reading rooms at Kew. Access to original records is available to members of the public after providing two acceptable forms of identification and readers are able to view original records within 35 minutes. Access to surrogate records, including microform, is also free and does not require a reader's ticket.
	The National Archives has recently undertaken an extensive programme of work to improve and expand its facilities. It now offers a programme of talks from records specialists and more advice surgeries for individual researchers.
	For members of the public who cannot visit Kew, The National Archives offers a priced research service to undertake a search for specific documents on their behalf. It can also provide a list of independent researchers who have an in-depth knowledge of its collections to undertake research on their behalf.

Rape: Criminal Proceedings

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what research he has commissioned on rape conviction rates in other  (a) European and  (b) common law jurisdictions for benchmarking purposes.

Alan Campbell: I have been asked to reply.
	We are always interested to learn from the experience of other countries. However, international comparisons in respect of convictions for rape are not reliable because different countries have different definitions of rape and different levels of reporting. Recording practices also vary, for instance, some countries record a crime only where there is sufficient evidence to prosecute.

Rape: Criminal Proceedings

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what research he has commissioned into the potential benefits of creating separate tiers of rape offences.

Maria Eagle: A review of research into rape and sexual assault, which included the practice of gradation of sexual offences in other jurisdictions, was commissioned as part of the major review of sexual offences which informed the Sexual Offences Act 2003. The research was published in July 2000 in 'Setting the Boundaries' Volume 2. There are no plans to conduct further research in this area.
	The Government take the view that rape is a very serious crime and that the seriousness of each individual case is best reflected in sentencing, in the light of the facts and considerations in the case, rather than in the creation of separate categories of offences which attempt to distinguish between more or less serious cases of rape by reference to, for example, the degree of violence used.

Rape: Victims

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what protocols he has announced for use by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority with regard to compensation payments to rape victims in cases where alcohol was involved.

Maria Eagle: The payment of compensation to victims of all violent crime is governed by the provisions of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme 2008. Guidance on the payment of compensation to victims of all types of violent crime is contained in the booklet A Guide to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme 2008. A copy of the Guidance can be obtained from CICA direct and is also available on CICA's website at:
	www.cica.gov.uk
	Applications received before 3 November 2008 are considered under the 2001 Scheme and its accompanying guidance.

Small Claims: Compensation

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will consider the merits of raising the cap for payouts in the small claims court from its current level of 5,000.

Bridget Prentice: The small claims track limit was considered in the consultation paper Case track limits and the claims process for personal injury claims. As indicated in the Government's response paper, published in July 2008, 94 per cent. of respondents agreed that that the general small claims limit should remain at 5,000. The Government therefore concluded that there should be no change to this limit.

Tribunals: Witnesses

John Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what remedies there are for expert witnesses before tribunals who consider that their professional reputation has been damaged by statements made  (a) in tribunal judgments and  (b) by those presiding over the tribunal, with particular reference to the Asylum and Immigration Tribunal.

Bridget Prentice: Judgments by the Asylum and Immigration Tribunal, like all tribunals, are protected by absolute privilege. If parties to or persons associated with an appeal wish to complain about the conduct, including statements made, of a tribunal judge or member, they should contact the relevant tribunal office who will inform them whether their complaint should be sent to the tribunal president, if one exists, or to the Office for Judicial Complaints.
	Complaints are dealt with in accordance with the Judicial Complaints (Tribunals) (No. 2) Rules 2008. Tribunal presidents who receive complaints, investigate them in accordance with these Rules and, if it is considered that there may be a case for formal disciplinary action, they will refer the case to the Office for Judicial Complaints. The Lord Chancellor and the Lord Chief Justice will then consider the evidence and decide what action, if any, should be taken.

Young Offender Institutions

David Burrowes: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what representations he has received in  (a) person and  (b) writing from children detained in (i) a young offender institution and (ii) a secure training centre in the last 12 months.

David Hanson: I have not received any personal representations. Statistics on complaints and representations made by young people in custody are not held centrally and obtaining this information would involve a search through individual records.
	At Young Offender Institutions, Prison Service Order 4950 provides that governors shall enable young people in custody to raise concerns and complaints. Particular help is to be given to those whofor example because of learning disabilities may have problems in doing so. The Youth Justice Board, through its contracts with providers requires secure training centres to have in place arrangements under which concerns and complaints can be raised. Every young offender institution and secure training centre has an advocacy service, which plays an important part in helping young people to voice concerns.

Youth Justice Board

David Burrowes: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the function is of the Youth Justice Board monitors placed in each secure training centre; what qualifications are required of Youth Justice Board monitors; and how many times a Youth Justice Board monitor has raised a concern in writing relating to the safety or well-being of a child in a secure training centre in each of the last five years.

David Hanson: Each secure training centre has a Youth Justice Board (YJB) monitor. All monitors are educated to NVQ Level 4 and have at least two years' experience of the criminal justice system before appointment. The monitor's function is to ensure that the YJB's objectives for the centre are being met, in compliance with the contract. Monitors have an important part to play in ensuring that safeguarding and child protection arrangements are working effectively. Responsibility for such arrangements, however, and for individual cases, lies with local authority children's services departments.

ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE

District Heating: Whitehall

Greg Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what fuels have been used to power the Whitehall District Heating System in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Eagle: I have been asked to reply.
	The information is set out in the following table.
	
		
			   Fuel used 
			   Gas kWhrs  Oil kWhrs 
			 2003 34,945,000 531,908 
			 2004 45,310,000 89,813 
			 2005 52,910,313 685,290 
			 2006 59,756,359 211,947 
			 2007 40,855,624 32,754

District Heating: Whitehall

Greg Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change which  (a) departments and  (b) Government buildings are served by the Whitehall District Heating System.

Angela Eagle: I have been asked to reply.
	The information is set out in the following table:
	
		
			  Departments and buildings served to the Whitehall District Heating System 
			  Department  Building 
			 Cabinet Office 10, 11 and 12 Downing Street 
			 HMT and HMRC GOGGS (Treasury) 
			 FCO OPO (FCO) Main Building 
			 DEFRA 55 Whitehall 
			 Cabinet Office Admiralty Arch North and South 
			 FCO Old Admiralty Building (FCO) 
			 Cabinet Office 22-26 Whitehall 
			 Cabinet Office Admiralty House 
			 Cabinet Office 36 Whitehall 
			 MOD Horse Guards 
			 Scotland House Dover House 
			 London School of Economics Northumberland House 
			 MOD MOD Main Building 
			 Royal United Services Institute RUSI 
			 Historic Palaces Banqueting House 
			 Welsh Office Gwydyr House 
			 MOD Old War Office 
			 Cabinet Office 70 Whitehall 
			 Civil Service Club Civil Service Club

CHILDREN, SCHOOLS AND FAMILIES

Children in Care

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  what proportion of 7-year olds in care achieved level two in literacy and numeracy at key stage 1 in each year since 1997;
	(2)  how many and what proportion of children in care achieved the national standard in each Key Stage 1 examination in each year since 1997.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: The OC2 data collection collects information on a range of outcomes for looked after children from local authorities. This information has been published in the Statistical First Release Outcome Indicators for Children Looked After, 12 months to 30 September 2007England (SFR 08/2008), which is available on the Department's website via the following link:
	http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000785/index.shtml
	This publication contains figures for the period 2005-07.
	Information on attainment in schools can be found in table B which shows the number eligible to sit KS1 tests and the number and percentage who have achieved at least level 2 in reading, writing and mathematics.
	Information on the attainment of looked after children was first collected in 2000, figures for earlier years are also published on the Department's website and can be found via the following links:
	Figures for 2002-04 are available in volume reference (03/2005) here:
	http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/VOL/v000580/index.shtml
	Figures for 2000-01 are available in volume reference (DH/VOL(OUT)01) here:
	http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/VOL/v000523/index.shtml

Children in Care: Free School Meals

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many children in care were eligible for free school meals in each of the last five years.

Beverley Hughes: Data published by the Department as SFR 23/2008: 'Children looked after in England (including adoption and care leavers) year ending 31 March 2008', show 47,600 children aged between five and 19 as being looked after by local authorities as at 31 March 2008. The source of this publication is the SSDA903, which does not collect information on whether a child is eligible for free school meals; this information is, however, collected in the School Census which also collects information on whether a child is in care while at their school.
	The most recent census data relates to January 2008. The census shows 34,390 pupils aged five to 19 attending primary, secondary and special schools who are classed as being in care as at January 2008. The School Census does not cover all looked after children; information is not collected for pupils in alternative provision, including pupil referral units, FE colleges, voluntary provision and those not in education or training. These differences in coverage will explain the different counts to an extent, but it is possible that the School Census undercounts the number of looked after children in primary, secondary and special schools.
	The information requested has been placed in the House of Commons Library.

Children in Care: GCSE

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  how many children in care did not obtain an  (a) C grade or above in any GCSE,  (b) C grade or above in mathematics GCSE and  (c) C grade or above in English GCSE in 2008;
	(2)  what average number of GCSEs was taken by pupils in maintained schools in each of the last five years, broken down by local authority area; and how many GCSEs were taken on average by children in care in maintained schools in each of the last five years, broken down by local authority;
	(3)  how many boys in care achieved  (a) five A* to C passes at GCSE,  (b) five A* to C passes at GCSE, including mathematics and English,  (c) five A* to C passes at GCSE, including mathematics, English and a science and  (d) five A* to C passes at GCSE, including mathematics, English, science and a foreign language in each year since 1997;
	(4)  what proportion of white British boys in care did not achieve  (a) any GCSE passes,  (b) at least one GCSE pass at grade C or above,  (c) at least five GCSEs at A* to C and  (d) at least five A* to C GCSEs, including English and mathematics in each year between 2001 and 2008;
	(5)  how many and what percentage of children in care received an A or A* grade in  (a) mathematics,  (b) English literature,  (c) English language,  (d) physics,  (e) chemistry,  (f) biology,  (g) French and  (h) German GCSE examinations in each of the last five years;
	(6)  how many and what proportion of pupils in care did not attain any GCSE grades higher than a D in each year since 1997-98:
	(7)  what proportion of white British boys in care achieved  (a) no GCSE passes and  (b) fewer than five GCSE passes at grade A* to C including English and mathematics in each year since 1995;
	(8)  how many and what proportion of  (a) pupils in care,  (b) pupils not in care and  (c) all pupils gained (i) no GCSEs and (ii) fewer than five A* to G grades including English and mathematics at GCSE in each year since 1999;
	(9)  what proportion of 15 year olds  (a) in care and  (b) not in care achieved (i) five GCSEs at A* to C and (ii) five GCSEs at A* to C including English and mathematics in each year since 1997;
	(10)  how many pupils in care gained 10 good GCSEs in 2008;
	(11)  what proportion of  (a) pupils in care and  (b) all eligible pupils did not sit five GCSEs or more in 2008;
	(12)  what proportion of pupils in care gained five A* to C at GCSE, including English, science, mathematics and a foreign language in each of the last three years.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: The OC2 data collection collects information on a range of outcomes for looked after children from local authorities. This information has been published in the Statistical First Release Outcome Indicators for Children Looked After, Twelve months to 30 September 2007England (SFR 08/2008), which is available on the Department's website via the following link:
	http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000785/index.shtml
	Information on attainment in schools at key stage 4 can be found in table C. This shows the following:
	number of pupils in year 11,
	the number and percentage who sat at least one GCSE or GVNQ,
	the number and percentage who achieved at least one GCSE A*-G,
	the number who achieved at least five GCSEs at grades A*-G and
	the number who achieved at least five GCSEs at grades A*-C.
	As the OC2 is an aggregate data collection, these figures cannot be broken down into any further detail for example by subject, number of GCSEs taken, grade, gender or ethnicity.
	Information on the attainment of looked after children was first collected in 2000, figures for earlier years are also published on the Department's website and can be found via the following links:
	Figures for 2002 to 2004 are available in volume reference (03/2005) here:
	http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/VOL/v000580/index.shtml
	Figures for 2000-01 are available in volume reference (DH/VOL(OUT)01) here:
	http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/VOL/v000523/index.shtml

Children in Care: GCE A-level

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  how many pupils in care achieved three A grades at A Level in 2008; and how many pupils in care did not gain a single grade C or above at GCSE in 2008;
	(2)  how many boys in care achieved three A grades at A Level in the last year for which figures are available;
	(3)  how many 16 to 17 year olds in care attended a sixth form college;
	(4)  how many children in care received an A grade in  (a) mathematics,  (b) physics,  (c) chemistry,  (d) further mathematics,  (e) history,  (f) French and  (g) German A Level in each of the last five years.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: The OC2 data collection collects information on a range of outcomes for looked after children from local authorities. This information has been published in the Statistical First Release 'Outcome Indicators for Children Looked After, Twelve months to 30 September 2007England' (SFR 08/2008), which is available on the Department's website via the following link:
	http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000785/index.shtml.
	Information on attainment in schools can be found in tables B and C; however these only cover key stages 1-4. Information on attainment for looked after children aged 16-18 (including the attainment in different subjects) or the number attending sixth form college are not collected centrally by the Department.

Children in Care: Gifted Children

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  how many children who had ever been in care whilst at their present school were in their school's gifted and talented cohort in each of the last five years;
	(2)  how many children who had ever been in care whilst at their present school in each local authority were in their school's gifted and talented cohort at the latest date for which information is available.

Beverley Hughes: Data published by the Department as SFR 23/2008: Children looked after in England (including adoption and care leavers) year ending 31 March 2008, shows 47,600 children aged between 5 and 19 as being looked after by local authorities as at 31 March 2008. The source of this publication is the SSDA903, which does not collect information on whether a child is part of their school's gifted and talented cohort. Information on gifted and talented pupils is, however, collected in the School Census which also collects information on whether a child is in care while at their school.
	The most recent census data relates to January 2008. The census shows 34,390 pupils aged 5 to 19 attending primary, secondary and special schools who are classed as being in care as at January 2008. The School Census does not cover all looked after children; information is not collected for pupils in alternative provision, including pupil referral units, FE colleges, voluntary provision and those not in education or training. These differences in coverage will explain the different counts to an extent, but it is possible that the School Census undercounts the number of looked after children in primary, secondary and special schools.
	The information available has been placed in the House of Commons Library. Information on gifted and talented pupils was first collected for primary and secondary schools in 2007, therefore information for the last five years is not available.

Children in Care: National Curriculum Tests

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what proportion of 11 year olds in care achieved level four in English and mathematics at Key Stage 2 in each year since 1997.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: The OC2 data collection collects information on a range of outcomes for looked after children from local authorities. The latest information has been published in the Statistical First Release Outcome Indicators for Children Looked After, 12 months to 30 September 2007England (SFR 08/2008), which is available on the Department's website via the following link.
	http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000785/index.shtml
	This publication contains figures for the period 2005-07.
	The latest information on attainment in schools can be found in table B which shows the number eligible to sit KS2 tests and the number and percentage who have achieved at least level 4 in English, mathematics and science.
	Information on the attainment of looked after children was first collected in 2000, figures for earlier years are also published on the Department's website and can be found via the following links:
	Figures for 2002-04 are available in volume reference (03/2005) here:
	http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/VOL/v000580/index.shtml
	Figures for 2000-01 are available in volume reference (DHA/OL(OUT)01) here:
	http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/rsgatewaw/DB/VOL/v000523/index.shtml

Children in Care: Oxbridge Admissions

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many young people offered places at either Oxford or Cambridge University in  (a) 2006 and  (b) 2007 were in care.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: The information requested is not collected centrally by the Department.
	Information on children looked after by local authorities is collected through the SSDA903 data collection. This collection includes information on children who are looked after, children who are adopted and children who were looked after and have left care. This information has been published in the Statistical First Release Children Looked After in England (including adoption and care leavers) year ending 31 March 2008 (SFR 23/2008), which is available on the Department's website via the following link:
	http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000810/index.shtml
	Table G1 contains information on children aged 19 who were previously looked after aged 16 and gives details of their activity at aged 19 which includes numbers and percentages in higher education.

Children in Care: Pupil Referral Units

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many pupils in care are attending pupil referral units.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: The information requested is not held centrally by the Department.
	Information on looked after children by local authorities is collected via the annual SSDA903 data collection. This collects information on the number of looked after children and their placements but does not collect information on which schools they attend. The school census does collect information on pupils who are in care while at their school but this does not cover all looked after children; information is not collected for pupils in alternative provision, including pupil referral units, FE colleges, voluntary provision and those not in education or training.

Children in Care: Truancy

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many pupils who were children in care took unauthorised absence in the last 12 months, broken down by national curriculum year group.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: The OC2 data collection collects information on a range of outcomes for looked after children from local authorities. This information has been published in the Statistical First Release Outcome Indicators for Children Looked After, 12 months to 30 September 2007England (SFR 08/2008), which is available on the Department's website via the following link:
	http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000785/index.shtml
	Information on absence from school can be found in table A which shows the number who missed at least 25 days of school during the previous school year. The OC2 data collection is an aggregate data collection from local authorities and it is therefore not possible to provide this information broken down by national Curriculum year group

Children: Diabetes

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  what recent steps his Department has taken to provide support for children diagnosed with diabetes; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what steps his Department has taken to ensure that schools provide appropriate support for children diagnosed with diabetes; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  how much his Department has allocated for expenditure on support for children diagnosed with diabetes in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: Our guidance to schools, 'Managing Medicines in Schools and Early Years Settings', issued jointly with the Department of Health in 2005, encourages schools and local authorities to develop policies on the management of pupils' medicines and on supporting pupils with medical needs; taking account of local resources and their various responsibilities. We also produced sister guidance in the same year, entitled 'Including me: managing complex health needs in schools and early years settings'.
	In April 2007, the Department of Health published a report entitled 'Making Every Young Person with Diabetes Matter', and has convened a group to support the implementation of best practice as set out in the report. The Department for Children, Schools and Families is represented on that group.
	Also, since September 2007 schools have a duty to promote the well-being of all pupils, including those with long term medical conditions. This duty defines well-being as the five outcomes of Every Child Matters, including being healthy and staying safe.
	Central Government allocates funding to local authorities based on need in their area. They then agree with their schools how funding is to be delegated. Therefore we do not dictate how much individual schools and local authorities are to spend on support for children diagnosed with diabetes.

Children: Protection

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families in which month he expects Lord Laming to submit his report on progress in implementing effective arrangements for safeguarding children.

Beverley Hughes: Lord Laming will be submitting his report to Ministers by the end of February 2009.

Departmental Disabled Staff

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what conclusions his Department has reached in fulfilment of its duty under section 3.111 of the statutory code of practice of the disability equality duty.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: DCSF's first Single Equality Scheme was published in December 2007. An update to this scheme was published online in December 2008. Summaries and conclusions of the steps taken to fulfil the obligations to the disability equality duty were included within this update.
	DCSF's Single Equality Scheme can be found on the Department's website at:
	http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/publications/des/docs/single equalityscheme.doc.

Departmental Electronic Equipment

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how much his Department and its predecessor have spent on  (a) flat screen televisions,  (b) DVD players and  (c) stereo equipment in each of the last three years.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: The Department's accounting records do not collate information to this level of detail. To provide a response would be at disproportionate cost.
	All expenditure, however, has to be incurred in accordance with the principles of 'Managing Public Money' and the Treasury handbook on 'Regularity and Propriety'.

Departmental ICT

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families with reference to the answer of 4 November 2008,  Official Report, columns 336-7W, on Government departments: information and communications technology, which IP addresses are used by  (a) his Department and  (b) computers in the offices of its (i) Ministers, (ii) communications officials and (iii) special advisers.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: To help defend against electronic attack, it is standard good information security practice for corporate IT systems, not to publish internal IP addresses. When accessing internet websites, the IP addresses of all of the computers on Department for Children Schools and Families internal office IT system are hidden behind the following IP addresses which are publicly available195.92.40.49 and 62.25.106.209. These IP addresses are shared with other Government departments that use the Government Secure Intranet.

Departmental Official Hospitality

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how much his Department spent on Ministerial hospitality in  (a) 2004-05,  (b) 2005-06,  (c) 2006-07 and  (d) 2007-08, expressed in current prices.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: The information in the form requested is not held centrally and can be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	All spending on official entertainment is made in accordance with the principles set out in Managing Public Money.

Departmental Pay

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what bonuses were paid by his Department in 2007-08; to which members of staff; and for what purposes.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: Non-consolidated bonuses paid in the Department were paid to 51 per cent. of all staff in 2007-08. Bonuses are judged on delivery of agreed objectives and behaviours.

Departmental Rail Travel

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families on what date he last used a train in the course of his official duties.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: My right hon. Friend last used a train in the course of official duties on Thursday 27 November. All ministerial travel is undertaken in accordance with the Ministerial Code.

Departmental Responsibilities

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families if he will place in the Library a list of the roles no longer in existence in  (a) his Department and  (b) its bodies as a result of the Gershon review.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: The Department was created on 28 June 2007. A list of senior managers, managers and administrative staff who are no longer employed in the Department has been placed in the House of Commons Library. We cannot confirm whether all of these staff have left as a result of the Gershon review as the information is not collected in the form requested and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	The non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) for which the Department is responsible have their own staffing arrangements. Information is not held centrally on roles no longer in existence and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. The Department publishes a Public Bodies Report each year which includes the number of staff in each NDPB as at 31 March. The Public Bodies 2008 report is at:
	http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/ndpb.

Further Education: Sittingbourne

Derek Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  when the Learning and Skills Council will announce its decisions on a further education college in Sittingbourne;
	(2)  when the Learning and Skills Council began work to identify a site for a further education college in Sittingbourne;
	(3)  who is responsible for deciding whether to establish a further education college in Sittingbourne.

Si�n Simon: I have been asked to reply.
	As the statutory planning body for post 16 education and skills, the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) is responsible for assessing the need for further education (FE) in each locality. Although the LSC, working with local partners, has identified a need for some additional FE provision in Sittingbourne, the evidence suggests that there is insufficient demand for a new FE college.
	Canterbury and Mid-Kent Colleges continue to play a major role in offering FE to learners in Sittingbourne, along with the local schools, the new Sittingbourne Skills Centre and the new Minster Academy which is expected to offer a wide range of vocational opportunities. Canterbury College, together with Swale borough council, is investigating whether there is scope for the college to have an additional presence in the area as part of the town's regeneration plans including looking at possible sites. If the college concludes this to be appropriate, it will consult locally before putting a case to the LSC for consideration. A proposal is unlikely before Easter 2009.
	The power to establish FE colleges lies with the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills consulting with the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families and is contained within section 16 of the Further and Higher Education Act 1992. Such decisions usually follow proposals made by the LSC. In the event of a proposal for an existing college to locate a new site in Sittingbourne, the Secretary of State has no role in the decision. This is for the college concerned with the support of the LSC.

Learning Disability: Primary Education

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how much funding is available to primary schools in  (a) West Chelmsford constituency,  (b) Essex and  (c) England for children diagnosed with specific learning difficulties in 2008-09.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: Funding data specifically for children diagnosed with specific learning difficulties is not collected by the Department. However, according to the available information, Essex LA's 2008-09 Section 52 Budget statement reports that the West Chelmsford maintained primary schools received an indicative SEN allocation of 2.2 million.
	The following table provides the planned net expenditure on the provision of education for pupils with special educational needs in Essex local authority and England for 2008-09:
	
		
			   
			   Essex LA  England 
			 ISB for special schools (Table 1) 28,406,000 1,505,407,000 
			 Funding delegated to nursery schools identified as notional SEN 15,000 11,660,000 
			 Funding delegated to primary schools identified as notional SEN 32,756,000 1,152,319,000 
			 Funding delegated to secondary schools identified as notional SEN 27,572,000 879,302,000 
			 Total SEN funding delegated to schools 88,748,000 3,548,688,000 
			 Centrally retained SEN element of the school budget 31,921,000 1,185,141,000 
			 SEN element of the LA budget 5,332,000 365,229,000 
			 Total planned expenditure on the education of children with SEN 126,001,000 5,099,058,000 
			 Notes:  1. Includes planned expenditure on the provision for pupils with statements and the provision for non-statemented pupils with SEN, support for inclusion, inter authority recoupment, fees for pupils at independent special schools and abroad, educational psychology service, local authority functions in relation to child protection, therapies and other health related services, parent partnership, guidance and information, the monitoring of SEN provision and inclusion administration, assessment and co-ordination. Also included is the funding delegated to nursery, primary and secondary schools identified as notional SEN and the individual schools budget (ISB) for special schools.  2. The ISB for special schools will include some general education costs for pupils with SEN in addition to those costs specifically for SEN while the figures recorded against notional SEN are only indicative of the amount that might by spent by schools on SEN. During 2008-09 local authorities in England also budgeted 552.6 million for SEN transport expenditure but this is not included in the table (Essex LA budgeted 13.3 million for SEN transport expenditure).  3. Figures are rounded to the nearest thousand pounds and may not sum due to rounding.  4. The data are drawn from Local Authorities Table 2 of their Section 52 Budget statements. The statements are collected by DCSF under section 52 of the Schools Standard  Framework Act 1998.  5. Cash terms figures as reported by local authorities as at 10 December 2008

Local Authorities: Disabled

Mike Gapes: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families when his Department plans to issue its disability audit tool to local authorities.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: Work on the disability audit tool is at an early stage as commissioned research upon which it is to be based was only published at the end of November. The Department expects it to be developed during the early part of 2009 with the assistance of the researcher and a working group of stakeholders with the aim of issuing it by the beginning of the next school year.

National Curriculum Tests

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what percentage of children who attended Sure Start centres received level 2 or above at key stage 1 for all years for which data are available.

Beverley Hughes: Data collected on levels attained by children at key stage 1 do not include information on whether they attended a Sure Start centre. It is therefore not possible to state what percentage of children who previously attended Sure Start centres achieved level 2 or above at key stage 1.

Primary Education: Curriculum

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families which primary schools have been visited by members of the Independent Review of the Primary Curriculum as part of their research for the report.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: Members of the Independent Review of the Primary Curriculum have visited 43 schools as part of their research for the report, to date:
	Gallions Primary School
	Weydon School
	Argyle Primary School
	Bournville Junior School
	Clunbury CofE Primary School
	Bute House Preparatory School
	The Deans Primary School
	Grosvenor Road Primary School
	Mills Hill Primary School
	Vigo Junior School
	The Colleton Primary School
	Edinbarnet Primary School
	Our Lady of Loretto Primary School
	Brucehill Early Education and Childcare Centre
	Houston Primary School
	St. Fillan's Primary School
	Redlands Primary
	Walnut Tree Walk School
	Torriano Junior School
	John Madejski Academy
	Wroxham Primary School
	Woodberry Down Community Primary School
	Argyle Primary School
	Balsall Common Primary School
	Monteney Primary School
	Marlwood School
	Cassop Primary School
	West Kidlington Primary School
	Portslade Infants School
	St. George's Hanover Square CofE Primary School
	Southwater Infant School
	Graffham Infants School
	Duncton CofE Junior School
	Woolmer Hill School
	Greenfields Junior School
	Peacehaven Infant School
	Meridian Community Primary School
	Elmhurst Primary School
	Oliver Goldsmith Primary School
	Kate Greenaway Nursery School and Children's Centre
	St. Matthew's CofE School
	Kelsall Community Primary School
	De Havilland Primary School

Pupils: Bullying

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  when he expects the requirement for schools to record all bullying incidents to be implemented; and what steps he will take to monitor those records;
	(2)  what definitions have been provided to schools for the purposes of recording incidents of bullying;
	(3)  whether he has plans for the inspection of the records kept by schools of incidents of bullying.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: We are planning to launch our public consultation on the proposed new duty to record incidents of bullying early in 2009 and we aim to implement it in September 2009. The new duty will require schools to record incidents of bullying at school level; they will not be required to report their records to the local authority or central Government. We currently recommend that schools record incidents of bullying and share these records with the local authority as a means of developing cross-area anti-bullying strategies, and we will continue to encourage this.
	As part of the Ofsted inspection process, schools are expected to demonstrate, through the self evaluation form, the steps they have taken to minimise bullying, and the effectiveness of these steps. Evidence is provided covering issues such as what anti-bullying policies the school has implemented, how incidents of bullying are recorded, how the data collected are analysed and followed up, and with what success. We expect school bullying records will be used when completing this form.
	Ofsted inspectors also gather evidence through discussions with children and young people about whether they feel safe in school, and how well they feel the school deals with bullying. School records of bullying incidents would only be checked if there was a disparity between the information provided on the self evaluation form and the information gathered from discussions with pupils.
	BullyingDon't Suffer in Silence: An anti-bullying pack for schools (DfEE 0064/2000, updated September 2002) defines bullying as:
	Behaviour by an individual or group, usually repeated overtime, that intentionally hurts another individual or group either physically or emotionally.
	Our suite of guidance Safe to Learn, published in 2007, reiterates this definition, and expands upon it, giving examples of what behaviours could count as bullying:
	Bullying includes: name-calling; taunting; mocking; making offensive comments; kicking; hitting; pushing; taking belongings; inappropriate text messaging and emailing; sending offensive or degrading images by phone or via the internet; producing offensive graffiti; gossiping; excluding people from groups; and spreading hurtful and untruthful rumours. (Safe to Learn 1.6-1.7)
	As part of our consultation process, we will ask for views on how bullying should be defined for the purposes of the new duty to record. Using the responses we receive, we will establish a clear definition of what the threshold for recording an incident of bullying will be, and communicate this to all practitioners.

Schools: Uniforms

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what discussions he has had with HM Treasury Ministers on the application of VAT to school uniforms in the light of the extension to 18 of participation in education, employment and training; and if he will make a statement.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: VAT issues remain a matter for HM Treasury. My Department has no plans to discuss VAT on school uniforms with the Treasury.
	Current guidance on school uniform states that governing bodies should give high priority to cost when setting a school uniform policy, and states that no school uniform should be so expensive as to leave pupils or their families feeling socially excluded.

Science: GCSE

Adam Afriyie: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many and what proportion of pupils in maintained schools were entered for individual science GCSE examinations in  (a) biology,  (b) chemistry and  (c) physics in each year since 1992.

Jim Knight: Readily available information on the number and proportion of pupils in maintained schools who were entered for physics, chemistry and biology is shown in the following table:
	
		
			   Number of entries  Percentage of entries 
			   Physics  Chemistry  Biology  Physics  Chemistry  Biology 
			 2007 36,586 36,718 38,721 6.1 6.2 6.5 
			 2006 34,299 34,587 36,261 5.7 5.8 6.1 
			 2005 30,954 31,248 32,838 5.2 5.2 5.5 
			 2004 28,302 28,589 29,613 4.7 4.8 5.0 
			 2003 26,226 26,730 27,638 4.5 4.6 4.8 
			 2002 23,752 23,841 24,553 4.1 4.1 4.2 
			 2001 23,094 23,212 23,935 4.0 4.0 4.1 
			 2000 22,399 22,389 23,133 3.9 3.9 4.0 
			 1999 21,607 21,715 22,054 3.7 3.8 3.8 
		
	
	Data for 2005-07 are based on pupils at the end of KS4. Data prior to 2005 are based on 15-year-old pupils at the start of the academic year.

Single Level Tests

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families when he plans to publish the results of the evaluations of the pilots of the single level tests.

Jim Knight: The Making Good Progress pilot is being externally evaluated by PricewaterhouseCoopers and the interim report on the first year of the pilot is due to be published on 17 December 2008. This report will include the summary of the December 2007 and June 2008 single level test results.
	A final evaluation report is due in autumn 2009.

Teachers: Pay

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how much was spent on salaries for  (a) teachers,  (b) teaching assistants and  (c) support staff in (i) Hemel Hempstead and (ii) Hertfordshire in 1997; and how much he expects will be spent on such salaries in 2008.

Jim Knight: The Department allocates education funding to local authorities so the requested information for Hemel Hempstead is not available. The available information for Hertfordshire local authority is contained within the following table:
	
		
			  Staffing expenditure by local authority maintained schools in Hertfordshire for 1996-97 and 2007-08 
			   1996-97  2007-08 
			   Teaching staff  Education support staff  Other support staff  Teaching staff  Education support staff  Other support staff 
			 Hertfordshire 160,892,000 67,315,000 34,189,000 428,694,000 81,463,000 69,710,000 
			  Notes: 1. Teaching staff includes teaching staff, supply teaching staff and agency supply teachers. 2. Other school staff includes premises staff, admin staff, catering staff and other staff. 3. Figures are rounded to the nearest 1,000. 4. The 1996-97 data are taken from the RO1 form which was collected from CLG (formerly ODPM) and the 2007-08 data taken from Section 52 Outturn statements. 5. Cash terms figures as reported by local authorities as at 10 December 2008.

Truancy: Wiltshire

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many days of truancy there were in  (a) primary and  (b) secondary schools in Wiltshire in each of the last three years.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: The Department does not maintain records of 'truancy'.
	The latest available published information on absence, including absence by reason, is published in 'SFR05/2008: Pupil Absence in Schools in England, Including Pupil Characteristics: 2006/07'. This can be found at:
	http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000775/index.shtml
	This also includes local authority data.

Young People: Drugs

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what steps he is taking to reduce the proportion of young people frequently using  (a) illegal drugs,  (b) alcohol and  (c) volatile substances.

Beverley Hughes: The new 10-year Drug Strategy (February 2008) and the Youth Alcohol Action Plan (June 2008) commit the Government to reducing harm arising to young people from the misuse of drugs, alcohol and volatile substances.
	The drug strategy, Drugs: Protecting Families and Communities identifies families as a key priority and highlights the need for early intervention and support to prevent future problems for children. It proposes a programme of intensive support services to reach the most chaotic families through programmes such as the Family Interventions Project, and Family Pathfinders to develop local systems and services that improve outcomes for families at risk.
	The Youth Alcohol Action Plan sets out a number of actions to address the problems of young people's alcohol consumption. Government will provide clearer health information for parents and young people about how consumption of alcohol can affect children and young people. This will include the Chief Medical Officer's guidelines on safer drinking by young people and a comprehensive communications campaign aimed at 11 to 15-year-olds to be launched in spring 2009. The Youth Alcohol Action Plan also sets out measures to tackle the problems arising from young people drinking in public places, and to work with the alcohol industry to ensure alcohol is marketed and promoted in a responsible way.
	In line with recommendations from an independent review of drug and alcohol education, Ministers announced on 30 October 2008 that personal health and social education (PHSE) would be made a statutory subject. This underlines the key role PHSE has to play in young people's personal development.
	For those young people that do develop a problem, having accessible and good quality specialist treatment available for them in all areas of England is a vital part of our approach. DCSF is working closely with the National Treatment Agency to continue to improve the accessibility and quality of substance misuse treatment for young people.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Illegal Immigrants

Shailesh Vara: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent estimate she has made of the number of illegal migrants in the UK.

Phil Woolas: Since the abolition of embarkation controls, which started in 1994, no Government have ever been able to produce an accurate figure for the number of people who are in the country illegally.
	By the end of December 2008, the majority of foreign nationals will be counted in and out of the country.
	This is one part of the biggest shake up of border security and the immigration system in a generation which also includes the global roll-out of fingerprint visas, compulsory watch-list checks for all travellers from high risk countries before they land in Britain and ID cards for foreign nationals.

Police: Beat

Edward Timpson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what her most recent estimate is of the proportion of time police officers spend on the beat.

Vernon Coaker: The Government are committed to delivering a visible and reassuring police presence. At the end of March 2008 64.9 per cent. of police officer time was spent on frontline duties. The fourth successive annual improvement since 2003-04.
	Since April 2008 there has been a neighbourhood policing team in every area. The Policing Pledge includes a commitment for neighbourhood policing teams to spend at least 80 per cent. of their time visibly working on their patch.

Police: Beat

Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps she is taking to maximise the amount of time that police officers spend on frontline policing.

Vernon Coaker: Since April there has been a neighbourhood policing team in every area. The Green Paper confirmed our commitment to reducing bureaucracy and developing technology to free up officer time. It is vitally important that the police are able to do their jobs efficiently, without being constrained by unnecessary bureaucracy.
	The policing pledge includes a commitment for neighbourhood policing teams to spend at least 80 per cent. of their time visibly working on their patch.

Police: Beat

Angela Watkinson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent estimate she has made of the proportion of time police officers spend on the beat.

Vernon Coaker: The Government are committed to delivering a visible and reassuring police presence. At the end of March 2008 64.9 per cent. of police officer time was spent on frontline duties. The fourth successive annual improvement since 2003-04.
	Since April 2008 there has been a neighbourhood policing team in every area. The policing pledge includes a commitment for neighbourhood policing teams to spend at least 80 per cent. of their time visibly working on their patch.

Police: Public Confidence

Roberta Blackman-Woods: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress she has made on the implementation of the single central target for public confidence in policing; and if she will make a statement.

Vernon Coaker: The single target is a hard-edged measure about raising public confidence that their local crime and antisocial behaviour priorities are tackled. The Home Office will be writing to police forces and authorities shortly about their targets.

Alcohol-related Crime

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent assessment she has made of the effectiveness of measures to combat alcohol-induced crime.

Jacqui Smith: The Government have made a number of such assessments. In the most recently published report? The impact of the Licensing Act 2003 on levels of crime and disorder: an evaluation (2008) by Hough et al, it was found that crimes involving serious violent crime may have reduced and local residents were less likely to say that drunk and rowdy behaviour was a problem.
	As I have stated, the Government are determined to crack down further on alcohol related crime and disorder, this is why I announced last week a new mandatory code of practice to target the most irresponsible retail practices, a 3 million cash injection for Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships for enforcement activities in 190 areas and a further 1.5 million for our priority areas.

Alcohol-related Crime

Jeremy Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent assessment she has made of the effectiveness of measures to combat alcohol-induced crime.

Alan Campbell: The Government have made a number of such assessments. In the most recently published report, 'The impact of the Licensing Act 2003 on Levels of Crime and Disorder: An Evaluation' (2008) by Hough et al, it was found that crimes involving serious violent crime may have reduced and local residents were less likely to say that drunk and rowdy behaviour was a problem.
	As I have stated, the Government are determined to crack down further on alcohol related crime and disorder, this is why I announced last week a new mandatory code of practice to target the most irresponsible retail practices, a 3 million cash injection for Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships for enforcement activities in 190 areas and a further 1.5 million for our priority areas.

Kingsnorth Climate Camp

David Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions she has had with ministerial colleagues since 27 October 2008 on the policing of the Kingsnorth climate camp.

Vernon Coaker: I have had no discussions with ministerial colleagues on the policing of the Kingsnorth Climate Camp since 27 October 2008.

Policing Pledge

Ann Coffey: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent assessment she has made of progress towards delivering the policing pledge.

Vernon Coaker: The policing pledge is an essential part of the reform programme to increase public confidence in how crime is tackled and justice delivered. That is why I am delighted that all 43 chief constables have committed to deliver the pledge by the end of the year.

Police Entry, Search and Seizure Powers

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent representations she has received from police officers on police powers of entry, search and seizure; and if she will make a statement.

Vernon Coaker: We have received 44 responses from police officers and policing organisations to the public consultation on the Review of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 and these include comments on powers of entry search and seizure.
	The consultation period ended on 28 November 2008 and a summary of responses will be published early in the new year on the Home Office website.

Early Intervention Strategies Violent Crime

Graham Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what research she has evaluated on the effect of early intervention strategies on levels of violent crime, with particular reference to Nottingham; and if she will make a statement.

Alan Campbell: The Department for Children Schools and Families has evaluated recent interventions such as family intervention projects, including those currently running in Nottingham. It shows that, among other things, intervening early with families can help to reduce levels of domestic violence and antisocial behaviour.

DNA

David Heathcoat-Amory: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps she plans to take to destroy DNA samples taken from people subsequently not convicted of the crime of which they were suspected.

Alan Campbell: DNA and fingerprints play an invaluable role in fighting crime. We are carefully considering how best to give effect to the recent judgment of the European Court of Human Rights.
	We recognise the importance of the judgment and will publish our response to the court's findings as soon as possible.

Alcoholic Drinks: Misuse

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what meetings her Department and members of the Alcohol Education and Research Council have held to discuss her Department's 2008 advertising campaign to combat binge drinking.

Alan Campbell: There have been no meetings between Home Office officials and members of the Alcohol Education and Research Council to discuss the advertising campaign to combat binge drinking.

Alcoholic Drinks: Young People

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many retailers have been prosecuted for persistently selling alcohol to a person under 18 years old in each of the last five years.

Alan Campbell: No data are currently available. Section 147A of the Licensing Act 2003 (as amended by the Violent Crime Reduction Act 2006) came into effect on 1 April 2008. Court Proceedings data for 2008 will be available in autumn 2009.

Antisocial Behaviour Orders: Kent

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many anti-social behaviour orders have been  (a) issued and  (b) breached in (i) Ashford constituency and (ii) Kent since 1 January 2005.

Alan Campbell: Antisocial behaviour orders (ASBOs) became available from April 1999. Data on the number of antisocial behaviour orders (ASBOs) issued and breached are currently available up to 31 December 2006 and are not compiled below Criminal Justice System (CJS) area level.
	Between 1 January 2005 and 31 December 2006, 73 ASBOs were issued in the Kent Criminal Justice System (CJS) area. There were 16 ASBOs that had originally been issued by courts in the Kent CJS area, proven in court to have been breached for the first time during 2005 and 2006.

Acceptable Behaviour Contracts: Young People

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many acceptable behaviour contracts have been issued to young people drinking and behaving anti-socially in public in each of the last five years.

Alan Campbell: Data on acceptable behaviour contracts (ABCs) are not collected by the Home Office as they are voluntary agreements and therefore not suitable for central data collection. Surveys carried out by the Home Office of the Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships (CDRPs) indicated that over 25,000 ABCs have been made since October 2003.
	A National Audit Office study in December 2006 found that such interventions were highly effective in combating antisocial behaviour. 65 per cent. of people stopped behaving antisocially after one intervention; 86 per cent. after two; and 93 per cent. after three.

Asylum: Interpreters

Paul Rowen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum claimants did not have the services of an interpreter offered to them in proceedings relating to their claim in the last five years.

Phil Woolas: holding answer 9 December 2008
	The UK Border Agency and Asylum and Immigration Tribunal (AIT) offers all asylum seekers the services of an interpreter at public expense whenever it is considered necessary in connection with proceedings relating to their application or appeal.

Belmarsh Prison

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people are detained under her instruction at HM Prison Belmarsh; for how long each has been detained; and when she expects each to be released.

Phil Woolas: Information relating to individuals serving custodial sentences in prisons or who are detained for other reasons is held and collated by the Ministry of Justice. In order to obtain the requested information, so as to identify where individuals are detained, it would be necessary to examine individual Home Office and UK Border Agency records at disproportionate cost

Climate Change

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment her Department has made of its capacity to adapt to climate change; and what plans she has to publish a climate change adaptation strategy.

Phil Woolas: The Home Office participates in the Defra-led Climate Change Adaptation Programme Board. The main climate change-related issues for the Home Office are developing an estate that is resilient to climate change and ensuring that the police are prepared for the impact of a changing climate, in terms of business continuity and crime prevention and detection. The Home Office commitments and priorities are set out on the Defra climate change website:
	http://www.defra.gov.Uk/environment/climatechange/adapt/programme/home-office.htm#done
	There are no plans to publish a Home Office climate change strategy at this stage.

Closed Circuit Television: Crime Prevention

Joan Ryan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment she has made of the contribution closed circuit television can make to tackling crime.

Alan Campbell: The Government support the use of closed circuit television in tackling and reducing crime. CCTV is most effective when used along side other measures.
	CCTV can also assist the detection of crime in public places and provide evidential material in identifying offenders.
	A recent report by the Campbell Crime and Justice Group
	http://db.c2admin.org/doc-pdf/Welsh_CCTV_review.pdf
	which includes UK membership and whose review was part funded by the Home Office, included the observation that CCTV is more effective in reducing crime in the UK than in other countries.

Crimes of Violence: Kent

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many incidents of violence against the person were recorded  (a) in total and  (b) per 100 population in (i) Ashford constituency and (ii) Kent police area in each year between 1997 and 2008.

Alan Campbell: The available information is given in the following tables.
	Police recorded crime statistics are not collected at constituency level, therefore figures for the Ashford Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership (CDRP) have been provided. CDRP figures are only available from 1999-2000 to 2007-08.
	These statistics have been presented in a series of separate tables to show why data are not directly comparable over the period 1997 to 2008.
	
		
			  Table 1: Violence against the person offences recorded by the police1997 
			  Number of offences and rate per 1,000 population 
			  Offence  Number of offences  Rate per 1,000 population 
			 England 233,441 5 
			 Kent 7,445 5 
			 Ashford n/a n/a 
			 n/a = Not available 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: Violence against the person offences recorded by the police1998-99 to 2001-02 
			  Number of offences and rate per 1,000 population 
			  Offence  Number of offences  Rate per 1,000 population 
			  1998-99   
			 England 470,689 10 
			 Kent 12,409 8 
			 Ashford n/a n/a 
			
			  1999-2000   
			 England 543,114 11 
			 Kent 12,984 8 
			 Ashford 921 9 
			
			  2000-01   
			 England 562,679 11 
			 Kent 13,122 8 
			 Ashford 933 9 
			
			  2001-02   
			 England 613,869 12 
			 Kent 12,293 8 
			 Ashford 909 9 
			 n/a = Not available.  Notes: 1. The coverage was extended and counting rules revised from 1998-99. Figures from that date are not directly comparable with those for 1997. 2. The data in this table are prior to the introduction of the National Crime Recording Standard. These figures are not directly comparable with those for later years. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 3: Violence against the person offences recorded by the police2002-03 to 2007-08 
			  Number of offences and rate per 1,000 population 
			   Number of offences  Rate per 1,000 population 
			  2002-03   
			 England 781,768 16 
			 Kent 18,358 12 
			 Ashford 1,156 11 
			
			  2003-04   
			 England 902,732 18 
			 Kent 20,512 13 
			 Ashford 1,255 12 
			  2004-05   
			 England 981,646 20 
			 Kent 22,857 14 
			 Ashford 1,573 15 
			
			  2005-06   
			 England 992,612 20 
			 Kent 26,812 17 
			 Ashford 1,548 14 
			
			  2006-07   
			 England 976,369 19 
			 Kent 27,554 17 
			 Ashford 1,499 14 
			
			  2007-08   
			 England 896,287 18 
			 Kent 25,191 15 
			 Ashford 1,416 13 
			  Notes: 1. The data in this table take account of the introduction of the National Crime Recording Standard in April 2002. These figures are not directly comparable with those for earlier years. 2. The Sexual Offences Act 2003, introduced in May 2004, altered the definition and coverage of sexual offences.

Departmental Disabled Staff

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what conclusions her Department has reached in fulfilment of its duty under section 3.111 of the statutory code of practice of the disability equality duty.

Phil Woolas: The conclusions we have reached can be found in our combined Race, Disability and Gender Equality Scheme annual progress report which was published in May 2008. The report has been published on the Home Office website at:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/documents/race-disability-progress-08.

Departmental Marketing

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department with reference to the Answer of 17 September 2008,  Official Report, column 2257W, on departmental marketing, department branding and marketing, how much was spent by  (a) her Department,  (b) the UK Border Agency,  (c) the Identity and Passport Service and  (d) the Criminal Records Bureau and their predecessors in each of the last five years.

Jacqui Smith: The following table summarises spend of Home Office, UKBA, IPS and CRB over the last five years on branding and marketing.
	
		
			   
			   Home Office  UKBA  IPS  CRB 
			   Branding  Marketing  Branding  Marketing  Branding  Marketing  B/M 
			 2003-04 80,200 8,462,070 0 0 0 410,000 0 
			 2004-05 123,054 11,312,765 0 0 0 138,000 0 
			 2005-06 67,613 9,348,810 0 0 0 160,000 0 
			 2006-07 66,720 13,658,673 0 0 37,825 239,000 0 
			 2007-08 2,540 8,143,961 95,969 0 17,304 1,694,000 0 
		
	
	The figures provided for branding include the research and development of new brands as well as logo design and application. They include brands developed for campaigns as well as organisational brands. The Home Office branding figures also include work undertaken on behalf of executive agencies and NDPBs.
	The figures provided for marketing include the research and development of campaigns, and media costs for press, radio, TV and poster advertising (exclusive of VAT and fees). The Home Office is responsible for some of the public's biggest concerns such as counter terrorism, crime and immigration. The level of marketing spend amounts to less than 1 per cent. of the Home Office overall budget. In order to match resources to priorities we focus on where we will get the most impact and value and where we will deliver the greatest return on investment.

Departmental Pensions

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many and what proportion of civil servants in her Department and its agencies are members of the  (a) Classic,  (b) Classic Plus,  (c) Nuvos and  (d) Premium civil service pension schemes.

Phil Woolas: The breakdown of members by PCPS scheme, and the proportion of members in each scheme is shown in the following table:
	
		
			  Table 1 
			   Home Office and UKBA  Proportion of members in scheme (percentage)  CRB  Proportion of members in scheme (percentage)  IPS  Proportion of members in scheme (percentage) 
			 Total members 21,380  526  3918  
			 Classic 11,553 54.03 324 61.60 2,154 54.98 
			 Premium 8,340 39.01 136 25.85 1,411 36.01 
			 Classic Plus 709 3.32 5 0.95 59 1.51 
			 Nuvos 778 3.64 61 11.60 294 7.50 
		
	
	The figures reflect the position as at 30 September 2008 which are the latest data that are currently available.

Departmental Rail Travel

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what date she last used a train in the course of her official duties.

Phil Woolas: Monday 1 December.

Departmental Recruitment

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many civil servants in her Department were recruited through the fast stream; and what the average salary of those officials is.

Phil Woolas: Over the past four years the Department has recruited the following numbers of people into the fast stream.
	2007-0812 new fast streamers (five external and seven in-service)
	2006-0734 new fast streamers (27 external and seven in-service)
	2005-0437 new fast streamers (31 external and six in-service)
	2004-0537 new fast streamers (27 external and 10 in-service)
	The starting salaries of people joining the fast-stream as a Higher Executive Officer (Development) from outside the Home Office is as follows:
	
		
			
			 2007-08 25,046 
			 2006-07 23,566 
			 2005-06 22,978 
			 2004-05 22,289 
		
	
	The fast stream is open to all staff between Administrative Assistant and Senior Executive Officer grades.
	Statistics on intake into the fast stream as a whole are published annually on the Cabinet Office website. Copies are available in the Library for the reference of Members.

Departmental Temporary Employment

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department with reference to the Answer of 28 October 2008,  Official Report, columns 819-20W, on departmental temporary employment, how many staff were recruited through each company in each year; and for how long on average staff recruited through these companies worked for the Department in each year.

Phil Woolas: A central record is not retained of how many staff were recruited through each company in each year by the Home Department; and for how long on average staff recruited through these companies worked. To retrieve and collate the information from individual records would incur disproportionate cost.

Deportation: Illegal Immigrants

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the UK Border Agency, when considering the deportation of an individual to a country with which the UK does not have a Memorandum of Understanding  (a) assesses the human rights and political situation in the relevant country each time an individual case arises and  (b) has a general policy on the human rights and political situation of a country at any one time.

Phil Woolas: All asylum and human rights claims are carefully considered on their individual merits in accordance with our obligations under the 1951 United Nations Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees and the European Convention on Human Rights against the background of the latest accurate, sourced and up-to-date country information.
	The UK Border Agency's Country of Origin Information Service closely monitors the situation in all countries that generate asylum seekers to the UK. The material is compiled from a wide range of reliable external information sources and reports are updated frequently and significant changes in country conditions communicated to decision makers.
	The UK Border Agency will only enforce the return of individuals who they, and the courts, are satisfied are not in need of international protection and who do not elect to leave the UK voluntarily.
	Removal will be carried out only where it is considered both appropriate and safe to do so. This general policy applies to all removals whether or not an individual has raised an asylum or human rights claim.

Driving Under Influence: Kent

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many offences of  (a) drug and  (b) drink driving were recorded in (i) Ashford and (ii) Kent in each year since 1997.

Alan Campbell: Offences of driving while unfit through drugs or drink are summary offences and do not feature in the recorded crime statistics collected by the Home Office.
	The Home Office does collect data on recorded offences of 'Causing death by dangerous or careless driving (including while under the influence of drink or drugs)'. However, it is not possible to determine from the information held centrally which, if any, of these offences were committed while the offender was under the influence.
	The available information for the aforementioned offence is given in the following table. Data for this offence have only been collected at local authority area level since 2000-01.
	
		
			  Recorded offences of causing death by dangerous or careless driving (including while under the influence of drink or drugs) 
			   Ashford local authority area  Kent 
			 1997 n/a 12 
			 1998-99 n/a 11 
			 1999-2000 n/a 12 
			 2000-01  3 
			 2001-02  10 
			 2002-03  7 
			 2003-04  10 
			 2004-05 2 6 
			 2005-06  12 
			 2006-07 0 17 
			 2007-08 2 6

Drugs: Corruption

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases of corruption involving (a) police,  (b) prison and  (c) customs officers which involved illegal drugs there were in each of the last five years.

Alan Campbell: The information is not available.

Dungavel House Immigration Removal Centre

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many  (a) families and  (b) children under the age of 18 years were detained within Dungavel detention centre on 1 December 2008.

Phil Woolas: holding answer 11 December 2008
	On 1 December 2008 there was one family with two children under the age of 18 years in detention at Dungavel House.

Entry Clearances

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how long it took on average to process a  (a) short-term and  (b) long-term visa application in the latest period for which figures are available.

Phil Woolas: Average processing times for visa applications received in August 2008 are shown in the following table:
	
		
			  Length of stay  Visa applications received in August 2008  Number resolved  Percentage resolved  Average processing time  (days) 
			 Short-term 117,703 116,248 98.8 2.9 
			 Long-term (more than six months) 104,559 103,943 99.4 4.7 
			  Note: There data are unpublished and should therefore be treated as provisional.  Source:  Central Reference System, 8 December 2008

Entry Clearances

Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the operation of the UK visa system.

Phil Woolas: The UK Border Agency operates a robust visa system that protects the UK border while taking fast and fair decisions.
	The range of procedures in place, including taking of fingerprints and checking of watch lists, help ensure that only those who should be able to come to this country are granted visas.
	Already the UK Border Agency have fingerprinted more than 3.5 million visa applicants and identified 4,900 cases of identity fraud. So far this year they have refused visas to nearly 20 per cent. of applicants.

Entry Clearances: Kyrgyzstan

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department with reference to the answer of 24 November 2008,  Official Report, column 1054W, on Kyrgyzstan: entry clearances, what critical IT failures were responsible for frustrating the efforts of the entry clearance team in Almaty in respect of the application made on behalf of Kyrgyz musicians and performers invited to the UK by the Kyrgyz Ambassador; and if she will make a statement.

Phil Woolas: When the musicians first attempted to submit their biometrics on 10 October there was a problem with the biometrics IT and consequently their biometrics results were not processed successfully.
	When they returned on 28 October the satellite system of the Almaty office failed for reasons which have not yet been fully identified. This failure meant that post were unable to receive the results of any biometrics checks and were unable to send e-mails.
	The following week (between 3-10 November) Almaty was to be transferred from a satellite connection to a leased line connection. The purpose of this connection is to provide a more robust carrier for the IT applications that are used by such a post. The supplier of the FTN service, Global Crossing (GC) has worked closely with telecom providers in the local region to allow such a connection to be possible as well as working with the technical teams within FCOS. During this installation, unforeseen technical problems were encountered by the local telecom provider that resulted in the new leased line being delayed until being made operational on the morning of 21 November.
	Any loss of service is taken extremely seriously and reasonable efforts were taken to restore the service at the earliest opportunity.

Entry Clearances: Kyrgyzstan

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the application for entry clearance to the UK in respect of musicians and performers invited by the Kyrgyz Ambassador was first received; and on what dates the application was processed in  (a) Kyrgyzstan,  (b) Almaty,  (c) Astana and  (d) London.

Phil Woolas: The visa applications submitted by musicians and performers invited by the Kyrgyz Ambassador were received at the British Embassy Office Almaty on 10 October 2008. Due to technical difficulties the three musicians were asked to re-submit their applications on 29 October. That same day a further, but different failure in the IT system meant that post was unable to process any visa applications for two weeks. The musicians elected to retrieve their passports during this time. Their applications have yet to be processed and the British Embassy Office in Almaty is awaiting further instructions from the musicians as to whether they wish to proceed with their applications or withdraw their applications (with a full refund). Applications from these musicians and performers have not been received or processed in  (a) Kyrgyzstan,  (c) Astana and  (d) London.
	The UK Border Agency has reviewed whether it is possible for a Visa Application Centre, operated by its Commercial Partners, VFS, to open in Bishkek. On average, six applicants from Bishkek apply for visas every day. This low number means that it is not economically viable to operate a Visa Application Centre, although we are exploring whether we are able to partner with other countries and open a shared centre.

Entry Clearances: Kyrgyzstan

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for what reasons, following the move of the British Embassy in Kazakhstan from Almaty to Astana, entry clearance to the UK is being processed in Almaty rather than Astana; and if she will make a statement.

Phil Woolas: Although Astana does not process visa applications, staff there are able to accept applications from Government officials, which are then processed in Almaty. Given the number of applicants, it was not considered viable to run visa processing operations in both Astana and Almaty. It was concluded that because Almaty is a more accessible regional hub than Astana - important when considering how to deal with Kyrgyz applications, given that there is no Embassy there - and that the city is significantly larger than Astana, it was considered to be the most appropriate centre.

Forced Marriage

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many suspected cases of forced marriage were reported to  (a) the UK Border Agency and  (b) UK agencies abroad in the last 12 months;
	(2)  what timetable she has set for taking steps to assist victims of forced marriage with no recourse to public funds;
	(3)  what progress has been made towards full implementation of the scheme to give victims of domestic violence with no recourse to public funds access to assistance with their housing and living costs;
	(4)  what steps her Department is taking to prevent forced marriage by raising public awareness of the matter.

Phil Woolas: During the first three quarters of 2008 the Forced Marriage Unit provided support in 196 reluctant visa sponsors cases that were dealt with by the UK Border Agency and provided consular assistance overseas in 192 cases.
	Since January this year the Forced Marriage Unit has participated in over 90 outreach events to raise awareness of forced marriage in the community.
	Over the next two years the Forced Marriage Unit will continue to provide a programme engagement, including rolling out pilot surgeries in selected areas in order to raise awareness and provide support around forced marriage directly to local communities and participating in a further series of regional honour based violence roadshows.
	In March, the Home Office announced a new scheme where those supporting victims of domestic violence who have no recourse to public funds may be eligible to receive financial support towards their housing and living costs. If someone is a victim of forced marriage and has no recourse to public funds then they will be able to apply for ILR under the Domestic Violence Rule. They may also be eligible to apply for support under the new No Recourse to Public Funds scheme, in order to receive support for their housing and living costs.
	We continue to work closely with colleagues in the UKBA, the No Recourse to Public Funds Network and stakeholders, on the detail of the scheme to give victims of domestic violence with no recourse to public funds, access to assistance with their housing and living costs, if their application for indefinite leave to remain is successful. The scheme is currently being negotiated and will be implemented shortly.

National DNA Database

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department who is on the board which monitors the development of the DNA database.

Alan Campbell: The National DNA Database Strategy Board has responsibility for oversight of the National DNA Database, including the development of the database. Its current membership is set out in the following table.
	
		
			  National NDNAD strategy boardmembers 
			  Name  Title 
			 Mr. Gary Pugh, Director of Forensic Services, Metropolitan Police Chairman 
			 Mr. Stephen Webb, Home Office Policing Policy and Operations Directorate Core member, representing Home Office 
			 Mr. Keith Mannings, Association of Police Authorities Core member, representing APA 
			 Mr. David Money, Devon and Cornwall Police Authority Core member representing APA 
			 Mr. Kevin Mathieson, Deputy Chief Constable, Tayside Police Representing ACPO (Scotland) 
			 Dr. Douglas Pearston Scottish Police Services Authority 
			 Professor Peter Hutton, University of Birmingham Chair, NDNAD Ethics Group 
			 Mr. Andrew Rennison Forensic Science Regulator 
			 Professor Stephen Bain, University of Swansea Lay Member, representing HGC 
			 Professor Sarah Cunningham Burley, University of Edinburgh Lay Member, representing HGC 
			 Dr. Simon Bramble Head of Police Science and Forensics, NPIA 
			 Dr. Michael Prior NPIA NDNAD Custodian 
			 Ms June Guiness NPIA NDNAD Custodian DNA/Quality Adviser 
			 Det. Insp. Stacey Dibbs, ACPO DNA Staff Officer Secretariat

National DNA Database

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have been  (a) eliminated from inquiries and  (b) charged as a result of the police DNA database in the last year for which figures exist; and if she will make a statement.

Alan Campbell: holding answer 11 December 2008
	People may be eliminated from inquiries by the use of the National DNA Database (NDNAD) by two different methods.
	The first method is by the standard operation of the NDNAD. When DNA profiles derived from traces found at crime scenes are loaded on the NDNAD they are automatically searched against the DNA profiles of all persons with a record on the NDNAD. If there is no match between the crime scene profile and the person's record the NDNAD provides no reason for the police to investigate that person. In that sense, all 4.6 million persons on the NDNAD are eliminated by every search of a crime scene profile which does not match them. If there is a match, a report is sent to the police who can carry out further investigation of this lead.
	The second method is by the use of intelligence led mass screens. These take place if the police may ask members of the public in a particular area to provide their DNA voluntarily. For example, all males under the age of 40 residing within five miles of a murder might be asked to provide a DNA sample to see if it matched DNA found at the crime scene. A cumulative total is kept of the number of such screens kept since the NDNAD was set up in 1995, rather than figures for particular years. Between 1995 and 31 October 2008, there have been 391 screens resulting in the elimination of 95,629 samples. DNA provided voluntarily is used only for that particular investigation and then discarded, unless the person concerned gives explicit written agreement for it to be retained permanently on the NDNAD.
	Records are not kept of the number of persons charged as a result of use of the NDNAD, as charging reflects integrated criminal investigation which may involve both DNA and non-DNA evidence. However, records are kept of the number of DNA matches and detections. Matches refer to crimes where there is a match between DNA found at the crime scene and the record of a person's DNA on the NDNAD. A detection means that a crime with a DNA match has been cleared up by the police. Crimes with a DNA match often also result in further detections for other offences (known as 'additional' DNA detections) as a result of further investigation linked to the original offence (in other words, the detection of one offence through a DNA match may also lead to other offences being solved e.g. because an offender on being presented with DNA evidence linking him to one offence confesses to other offences). In 2007-08 there were 37,376 matches, 17,614 detections, and a further 15,420 additional detections.

National DNA Database

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  if she will bring forward proposals to remove from the national DNA database profiles of people who have not been convicted of an offence;
	(2)  if she will bring forward proposals to limit the length of time an individual's profile may be retained on the national DNA database based on the seriousness of the offence the individual was convicted of;
	(3)  if she will bring forward proposals to prohibit genetic research with material from the national DNA database.

Alan Campbell: DNA and fingerprints play an invaluable role in fighting crime. We are carefully considering how best to give effect to the recent judgment of the European Court of Human Rights. We recognise the importance of the judgment and will publish our response to the court's findings as soon as possible.
	Section 64 of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 provides that fingerprints, impressions of footwear or samples shall not be used for any purpose other than that related to the prevention or detection of crime, the investigation of an offence, the conduct of a prosecution, the identification of a deceased person or the person from whom a body part came or in the interests of national security.

Human Trafficking

Neil Gerrard: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate her Department has made of the number of people who have been trafficked who are  (a) in the UK and  (b) working as prostitutes in the UK.

Alan Campbell: The covert and deceptive nature of the crime make it difficult to provide an accurate assessment of the numbers of people who have been trafficked into the United Kingdom.
	However, we estimate that at any one time in 2003 there were up to 4,000 women who had been trafficked into the UK for the purposes of sexual exploitation.

Human Trafficking

Neil Gerrard: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what research her Department has used to estimate the number of people who have been trafficked into the UK.

Alan Campbell: The current estimate is that at any one time in 2003 there were up to 4,000 women who had been trafficked into the UK for the purposes of sexual exploitation. This was a result of work by Home Office officials which formed part of a wider piece of work on the economic and social costs of organised crime.
	The UK Human Trafficking Centre, in conjunction with the Serious Organised Crime Agency and Police Regional Intelligence Units, continues work to build a clearer picture of the nature and scale of the threat posed by all forms of trafficking.

Human Trafficking: Deportation

Neil Gerrard: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people who had been trafficked into the UK were deported in  (a) 2005,  (b) 2006,  (c) 2007 and  (d) 2008.

Phil Woolas: The information requested could be obtained only by the detailed examination of individual records at disproportionate cost.

Identity Cards

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether British citizens with an entry on the National Identity Register will be required to inform the Home Office when they have a child.

Jacqui Smith: It is a legal requirement for all births in the United Kingdom to be registered. However, the fact that an individual has had a child is not a registrable fact under the Identity Cards Act 2006 and so would not be included with that person's entry on the National Identity Register.

Identity Cards: EU Nationals

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the first identification cards will be issued to EEA citizens in the UK.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 9 December 2008
	In the autumn of 2009, the Identity and Passport Service will start to issue the first identity cards to British citizens and identification cards to European Economic Area citizens and Irish nationals working in sensitive roles or locations, starting with airside workers.

Identity Cards: Interviews

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the criteria will be for deciding which applicants for an identity card will be required to attend an interview in order to authenticate their identity.

Jacqui Smith: In some cases when individuals apply for registration on the National Identity Register or for a replacement identity card they will be asked to attend an interview. An interview may be necessary so as to ensure that the individual applicant is the true owner of the identity.
	While the precise arrangements for interviews have yet to be finalised, we will build upon existing practice for interviewing first time adult passport applicants.

Immigration Status

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she expects to resolve the immigration status of  (a) Karwan Hamid Rasoul, ref. B1097175/R1061228 and  (b) Patrick Odo, ref. HO 01064278.

Phil Woolas: The UK Border Agency replied to the hon. Member on 9 December 2008.

Immigration and Nationality Directorate: Disciplinary Proceedings

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many members of staff at the Immigration and Nationality Directorate have been investigated for impropriety since 31 July 2006.

Phil Woolas: The number of UK Border Agency staff (formerly Immigration and Nationality Directorate) investigated for impropriety since 31 July 2006 is 1,004. This includes attendance, discipline, bullying, harassment or discrimination, and performance issues.

Immigration: Females

Paul Rowen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what estimates she has made of the cost of providing support for migrant women who have no recourse to public funds while their application for indefinite leave to remain is considered;
	(2)  what recent discussions she has had on the application of the recourse to public funds rule to migrant women subjected to domestic violence;
	(3)  what estimate she has made of the number of migrant women who are victims of domestic violence and have no recourse to public funds;
	(4)  when she plans to begin a consultation on policy relating to migrant women who are victims of domestic violence and have no recourse to public funds;
	(5)  what estimate she has made of the number of migrant women subject to the no recourse to public funds rule who would become eligible for retrospective support if their application for independent leave to remain were successful.

Alan Campbell: In March, the Home Office announced a new scheme where those supporting victims of domestic violence who have no recourse to public funds may be eligible to receive financial support towards their housing and living costs. Under the new scheme victims of domestic violence whose applications for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) are successful may qualify for a contribution towards these costs, following their grant of leave. Support will not be provided by UKBA to women while their applications are outstanding. The development of the new scheme is currently being negotiated in partnership with the UKBA, the No Recourse to Public Funds Network and stakeholders.
	The UK Border Agency does not routinely collect data on the number of all women who are victims of domestic violence and who have no recourse to public funds. Information is available on the number of victims who have applied for ILR on the basis of domestic violence. In the last three years there have been approximately 3,500 applications for ILR as the victim of domestic violence. It is estimated, from figures supplied by UKBA and the voluntary sector, that there are approximately 1,500 migrant women per annum who apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain under the domestic violence rule, approximately one in three claim to be destitute and may therefore be eligible for support under the scheme (500 per year).
	There are currently no plans to launch a consultation on migrant women who are victims of domestic violence and have no recourse to public funds.
	The figures quoted have not been quality assured and are not a national statistic. It should be treated as provisional management information and may be subject to change.

Members: Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she will respond to the letter to her of 21 October 2008 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton, with regard to Mr S. Choudhry.

Jacqui Smith: I wrote to the my right hon. Friend on 8 December 2008.

Members: Correspondence

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she plans to reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Brent East, dated 10 June 2008, regarding the Umbanda Temple.

Phil Woolas: There is no trace of the letter referred to having been received in the Home Office. A copy received on 10 December does however show that the subject matter of the letter is for Communities and Local Government.

Offenders: Cambridgeshire

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many  (a) prolific and  (b) other priority offenders there were in each basic command unit in the Cambridgeshire Constabulary area at (a) 30 June 2008 and (b) 30 September 2008; and if she will make a statement.

Alan Campbell: Data available from the performance management arrangements for the Prolific and other Priority Offender programme do not distinguish between those selected as prolific or other priority offenders. They do show the total numbers classified as Prolific and other Priority Offenders, based on information provided by the local schemes, and a breakdown of these numbers for Cambridgeshire constabulary, for the periods requested, is given in the following table.
	
		
			  Basic command unit  CDRP/PPO scheme  June 2008  September 2008 
			 Southern Cambridge 20 21 
			 Southern East Cambridgeshire 13 14 
			 Southern South Cambridgeshire 14 9 
			 Central Fenland 15 16 
			 Central Huntingdonshire 18 17 
			 Northern Peterborough 64 55

Offenders: Peterborough

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many individuals who have taken part in the prolific and other priority offenders programme in the Peterborough city council area since 2004 re-offended within 12 months of completing the programme; and if she will make a statement.

Alan Campbell: The information requested is not held or collected as part of the performance management arrangements for the Prolific and other Priority Offender programme. The reoffending rate of Prolific and other Priority Offenders is now included as one of the Government's National Indicators for Local Authorities and Local Authority Partnerships. The relevant indicatorNational Indicator 30has been included in Peterborough's Local Area Agreement, with an agreed target of a 22 per cent. reduction in re-offending among the area's Prolific and other Priority Offenders in the current year.

Offenders: Peterborough

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many individuals have taken part in the prolific and other priority offenders programme in the Peterborough City Council area since 2004; and if she will make a statement.

Alan Campbell: The performance management arrangements for the Prolific and other Priority Offender programme provides a snapshot of the number of offenders classified as Prolific and other Priority Offenders at the time at which data are provided to the Home Office. The table provides the numbers who were so classified in Peterborough at the end of March each year since the programme began.
	It is not possible to derive from this a figure for the total number of offenders who have ever been classified as Prolific and other Priority Offenders in the area since the programme began, because each of the figures given does not necessarily represent a wholly new cohort.
	
		
			  Peterborough  Number of PPOs 
			 March 2005 15 
			 March 2006 19 
			 March 2007 20 
			 March 2008 29

Offensive Weapons: Young People

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people under the age of 18 years have been caught carrying a knife in each year in  (a) the UK,  (b) the North East,  (c) the Tees Valley and  (d) Middlesbrough and East Cleveland constituency in each year since 1997.

Alan Campbell: It is not presently possible to identify offences for those caught carrying a knife from the data centrally collected on overall recorded crime, or the penalties or sanctions that would have been associated with these offences. However, from April 2008 possession of an article with a blade or point has become a separate category in notifiable offences. Data for 2008-09 will be reported on in July 2009.
	Since April 2007, police forces have been providing the Home Office with aggregate data on more serious violent offences in which a knife or sharp instrument was involved. Data relating to such offences recorded during 2007-08 were published in table 3.09 of the recent 'Crime in England and Wales 2007-08' statistical bulletin. This table is reproduced in Table A. Police force area is the lowest level for which we have data.
	
		
			  Table A: Knife and sharp instrument offences recorded by the police for selected offences, 2007-08( 1) 
			  Numbers and percentages 
			   Total of selected serious offences( 2)  Attempted murder  Wounding with intent to do GBH  Wounding or inflicting GBH (i.e. without intent)( 3) 
			  Police force area and region  Offences involving a knife  Offences involving a knife  Offences involving a knife  Offences involving a knife 
			   No.  %  No.  %  No.  %  No.  % 
			 Cleveland 169 20 4 40 76 38 17 12 
			 Durham 93 16 2 67 53 27 8 4 
			 Northumbria 351 22 1 20 140 48 64 13 
			 North East Region 613 20 7 39 269 39 89 11 
			  
			 Cheshire 224 23 1 17 64 32 26 13 
			 Cumbria 73 28 2 100 20 45 35 21 
			 Greater Manchester 2,294 20 20 20 600 43 315 14 
			 Lancashire 361 18 8 44 138 26 46 9 
			 Merseyside 757 22 3 9 312 35 52 7 
			 North West Region 3,709 21 34 21 1,134 37 474 12 
			  
			 Humberside 267 17 2 40 55 23 34 10 
			 North Yorkshire 66 12 1 20 21 15 4 2 
			 South Yorkshire 381 20 6 43 111 33 43 14 
			 West Yorkshire 915 21 10 45 306 37 75 12 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber Region 1,629 19 19 41 493 32 1S6 11 
			  
			 Derbyshire 187 15 2 22 49 32 28 10 
			 Leicestershire 294 19 5 45 99 33 25 14 
			 Lincolnshire 71 18 0 0 29 20 9 12 
			 Northamptonshire 216 17 3 27 83 42 10 5 
			 Nottinghamshire 548 21 5 42 122 51 27 9 
			 East Midlands Region 1,316 19 15 33 382 37 99 10 
			  
			 Staffordshire 219 13 1 25 34 50 75 9 
			 Warwickshire 160 26 2 50 41 39 14 11 
			 West Mercia 144 15 1 17 43 27 20 8 
			 West Midlands 2,303 22 14 26 561 45 370 22 
			 West Midlands Region 2,826 20 18 27 679 43 479 17 
			  
			 Bedfordshire 316 22 4 57 67 38 14 25 
			 Cambridgeshire 100 11 3 50 21 13 16 11 
			 Essex 289 16 6 40 89 30 10 7 
			 Hertfordshire 222 19 8 89 46 26 35 15 
			 Norfolk 67 12 1 100 22 15 13 12 
			 Suffolk 118 22 2 50 33 48 42 22 
			 East of England Region 1,112 17 24 57 278 27 130 15 
			  
			 London, City of 19 22 1 100 3 25 2 11 
			 Metropolitan Police 7,409 18 59 50 878 48 869 32 
			 London Region 7,428 18 60 61 881 48 871 32 
			  
			 Hampshire 388 18 7 50 88 36 108 14 
			 Kent 327 18 10 71 94 25 32 12 
			 Surrey 114 17 6 60 25 27 18 12 
			 Sussex 274 20 2 29 62 47 84 24 
			 Thames Valley 329 11 9 31 63 28 30 5 
			 South East Region 1,432 16 34 46 332 31 272 13 
			  
			 Avon and Somerset 360 14 3 30 85 26 27 6 
			 Devon and Cornwall 288 25 5 56 127 45 45 14 
			 Dorset 47 9 0 0 20 31 11 5 
			 Gloucestershire 85 18 1 33 15 17 4 4 
			 Wiltshire 140 25 6 86 43 48 17 14 
			 South West Region 920 17 15 43 290 34 104 9 
			  
			 England total 20,985 19 226 37 4,738 2,674 2,674 16 
			  
			 Dyfed-Powys 74 21 3 75 31 53 31 12 
			 Gwent 130 17 1 50 79 22 8 5 
			 North Wales 108 26 1 33 56 41 25 18 
			 South Wales 685 28 0 0 333 38 46 13 
			 Wales total 897 25 5 38 499 35 110 12 
			  
			 British Transport police 269 23 0 0 11 17 1 2 
			  
			 England and Wales 22,151 19 231 37 5,248 37 2,785 15 
		
	
	
		
			  Numbers and percentages 
			   Robbery of business property  Robbery of personal property 
			  Police force area and region  Offences involving a knife  Offences involving a knife 
			   No.  %  No.  % 
			 Cleveland 16 40 56 12 
			 Durham 13 45 17 11 
			 Northumbria 45 34 101 15 
			 North East Region 74 37 174 14 
			  
			 Cheshire 68 50 65 15 
			 Cumbria 6 75 10 23 
			 Greater Manchester 373 30 986 16 
			 Lancashire 41 35 128 15 
			 Merseyside 153 35 237 19 
			 North West Region 641 33 1,426 16 
			  
			 Humberside 29 31 147 16 
			 North Yorkshire 12 40 28 13 
			 South Yorkshire 45 29 176 16 
			 West Yorkshire 113 32 411 16 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber Region 199 31 762 16 
			  
			 Derbyshire 24 28 84 12 
			 Leicestershire 16 25 149 15 
			 Lincolnshire 11 39 22 16 
			 Northamptonshire 19 18 101 13 
			 Nottinghamshire 56 28 338 18 
			 East Midlands Region 126 26 694 16 
			  
			 Staffordshire 36 39 73 12 
			 Warwickshire 31 31 72 26 
			 West Mercia 19 25 61 13 
			 West Midlands 192 29 1,166 17 
			 West Midlands Region 278 30 1,372 16 
			  
			 Bedfordshire 32 35 199 18 
			 Cambridgeshire 14 19 46 8 
			 Essex 30 17 154 14 
			 Hertfordshire 21 24 112 17 
			 Norfolk 7 23 24 9 
			 Suffolk 11 31 30 13 
			 East of England Region 115 23 565 14 
			  
			 London, City of 1 50 12 23 
			 Metropolitan Police 612 18 4,991 15 
			 London Region 613 18 5,003 15 
			  
			 Hampshire 33 27 152 16 
			 Kent 43 27 148 15 
			 Surrey 29 29 36 12 
			 Sussex 27 29 99 12 
			 Thames Valley 47 19 180 10 
			 South East Region 179 25 615 13 
			  
			 Avon and Somerset 17 16 228 13 
			 Devon and Cornwall 33 45 78 17 
			 Dorset 3 11 13 6 
			 Gloucestershire 14 38 51 20 
			 Wiltshire 22 52 52 17 
			 South West Region 89 31 422 14 
			  
			 England total 2,314 26 11,033 15 
			  
			 Dyfed-Powys 3 50 6 15 
			 Gwent 10 37 32 14 
			 North Wales 0 0 26 19 
			 South Wales 29 42 177 23 
			 Wales total 42 41 241 21 
			 British Transport Police 3 100 254 24 
			  
			 England and Wales 2,359 26 11,528 15 
			 (1) Other offences exist that are not shown in this table that may include the use of a knife or sharp Instrument. In this table 'offences involving a knife' refers to the use of a knife or sharp instrument. (2) Total of selected serious offences only include the five offence types shown In this table. (3) Includes racially or religiously aggravated wounding or inflicting GBH.

Police Authorities

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consideration she has given to the direct election of members of police authorities; and if she will make a statement.

Vernon Coaker: The Policing Green Paper sets out proposals for the direct election of Crime and Policing Representatives (CPRs) to ensure that the police are tackling the priorities that most concern local people and that people know who to hold to account, how and when.

Police Raids

Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many raids have been carried out by police on private homes between the hours of midnight and 5:00 am with no charges being brought on the direction of the family courts in the last 12 months.

Bridget Prentice: I have been asked to reply.
	Family courts do not have the power to make a direction to order a police raid.

Prostitution

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many brothels have been raided in England and Wales in each of the last three years, broken down by region.

Alan Campbell: This information is not centrally collated.

Prostitution

Neil Gerrard: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate her Department has made of the average age of people first entering into prostitution in the latest period for which information is available; and upon what research her Department's calculations are based.

Alan Campbell: The Government's consultation paper on prostitution, Paying the Price, provides a summary of research on the age of first involvement in prostitution. This paper is available at:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/documents/paying_ the_price.pdf?view=Binary.

Racial Harassment

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many complaints of racial abuse relating to staff for which her Department is responsible have been  (a) investigated and  (b) upheld in the last 12 months.

Phil Woolas: During the last 12 months (for the period 1 November 2007 to 31 October 2008) the Home Office, including the UK Border Agency, the Identity and Passport Service and the Criminal Records Bureau, received fewer than five official complaints of racial discrimination or racial harassment from staff against their colleagues. Further information is therefore withheld on grounds of confidentiality.
	All employees have a duty to respect the dignity of others at work, be mindful of the effect their behaviour may have on colleagues, and ensure their own conduct does not breach the provisions of the Home Office bullying, harassment and discrimination policy.
	Under the policy, line managers are responsible for maintaining a workplace that is free from bullying, harassment and discrimination, confronting unacceptable behaviour wherever it arises.

Speed Limits: Motorcycles

Mark Todd: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department with reference to the Answer of 18 November 2008,  Official Report, column 269W, on speed limits: motorcycles, whether the ability to read rear licence plates on motorcycles is a requirement of the type approval process for average speed cameras.

Alan Campbell: The technical requirements which an average speed camera has to satisfy before it can be considered for type approval are set out in the Manual Distance/Time Speedmeter Handbook and the Automatic Distance/Time Speedmeter Handbook, published by the HO Scientific Development Branch and available on the HO website at:
	http://scienceandresearch.homeoffice.gov.uk/hosdb/publications.
	There is no specific requirement in respect of motorcycles or any other individual type of vehicle, since the cameras are intended to monitor vehicles of all types. The operational tests which devices undergo involve their use in a variety of locations and conditions and in respect of a random range of vehicle types.

Theft: Greater London

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many incidents of theft or burglary have been reported in  (a) London and  (b) Bexley in each year since 1997.

Alan Campbell: The available information relates to offences of theft and burglary recorded by the police. Figures for the London region and the Bexley Basic Command Unit are given in the following tables. Data for theft and burglary at Basic Command Unit level are only available from 2001-02.
	
		
			  Table 1: Offences of theft and burglary recorded by police1997 
			  Number of offences 
			   Theft  Burglary 
			 London region 371,141 141,458 
			 Bexley (1) (1) 
			 (1 )Not available. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: Offences of theft and burglary recorded by police199 8 -99 to 2001-02 
			  Number of offences 
			   Theft  Burglary 
			  1998-99   
			 London region 387,928 124,381 
			 Bexley (1) (1) 
			
			  1999-2000   
			 London region 430,875 129,565 
			 Bexley (1) (1) 
			
			  2000-01   
			 London region 420,400 112,920 
			 Bexley 7,832 2,583 
			
			  2001-02   
			 London region 449,982 116,493 
			 Bexley 6,964 2,394 
			 (1) Not available.   Notes:  1. The coverage was extended and counting rules revised from 1998-99. Figures from that date are not directly comparable with those for 1997.  2. The data in this table are prior to the introduction of the National Crime Recording Standard. These figures are not directly comparable with those for later years. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table  3 : Offences of theft and burglary recorded by police200 2-03 to 2007-08 
			  Number of offences 
			   Theft  Burglary 
			  2002-03   
			 London region 469,877 113,871 
			 Bexley 6,743 2,341 
			
			  2003-04   
			 London region 454,289 105,815 
			 Bexley 6,630 2,226 
			
			  2004-05   
			 London region 416,993 101,975 
			 Bexley 5,590 1,986 
			
			  2005-06   
			 London region 404,975 103,876 
			 Bexley 6,136 2,366 
			
			  2006-07   
			 London region 370,303 97,130 
			 Bexley 4,917 2,076 
			  2007-08   
			 London region 336,613 94,265 
			 Bexley 5,598 2,180 
			  Note:  The data in this table take account of the introduction of the National Crime Recording Standard in April 2002. These figures are not directly comparable with those for earlier years.

War Crimes: Entry Clearances

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department with reference to the answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Preseli Pembrokeshire (Mr. Crabb) of 13 November 2008,  Official Report, column 1345W, on crimes against humanity: entry clearances, how many cases considered by the war crimes team have been referred to the Metropolitan Police.

Phil Woolas: Since 2005, the war crimes team in the UK Border Agency has referred 22 cases to the Metropolitan Police for inquiry.

War Crimes: Entry Clearances

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department with reference to the answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Preseli Pembrokeshire (Mr. Crabb) of 13 November 2008,  Official Report, column 1345W, on crimes against humanity: entry clearances, in how many of the cases where applicants have been refused refugee status following recommendations by the war crimes team the applicant has been granted discretionary leave and remains in the United Kingdom.

Phil Woolas: The Case Information Database records three applicants who, following a recommendation from the war crimes team, have been refused asylum under Article 1F(a) of the 1951 United Nations Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees since October 2007 and who have also been granted discretionary leave. The Case Information Database is not designed to track whether individuals granted leave to remain are currently present in the United Kingdom.
	These figures are not provided under national statistics protocols and have been derived from management information which is provisional and subject to change. Prior to this period data could be obtained only at disproportionate cost through the examination of individual case records.

War Crimes: Entry Clearances

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department with reference to the answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Preseli Pembrokeshire (Mr. Crabb) of 13 November 2008,  Official Report, column 1345W, on crimes against humanity: entry clearances, how many cases investigated by the war crimes team involved those who were refused  (a) naturalisation and  (b) indefinite leave to remain and who remain resident in UK territory.

Phil Woolas: The information requested could be obtained only by the detailed examination of individual case records, or by undertaking further inquiries, at disproportionate cost.

Wildlife: Crime

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance her Department provides to police forces on the investigation of offences involving cruelty to badgers.

Alan Campbell: The Government believe that the cruel treatment of badgers is unacceptable and have put in place comprehensive legislation including the Protection of Badgers Act 1992, to protect them. The Government also provide funding for the National Wildlife Crime Unit, which provides advice for police forces on the detection and investigation of wildlife crime. The police have primary responsibility for the investigation and enforcement of offences against badgers and all forces have officers who have responsibility for investigating wildlife offences.
	The number of persons proceeded against at magistrates courts for offences relating to the Protection of Badgers Act, sections 1(1), 1(3), 2(1)(a), 2(1)(c), 4, 5, and 10 (8), for the years 2003 to 2007 can be viewed in the table.
	These data are on the principal offence basis. The figures given in the table on court proceedings relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offence for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences, the offence selected is the one for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe.
	Court proceedings data for 2008 will be available in the autumn of 2009.
	
		
			  The number of defendants proceeded against at magistrates courts and found guilty at all courts for offences under the Protection for Badgers Act 1992, sections 1(1), 1(3), 2(1)(a), 2(1)(c), 4, 5, and 10 (8) in England and Wales for the years 2003 to 2007( 1, 2, 3, 4) 
			   Proceeded against  Found guilty 
			 2003 10 4 
			 2004 12 4 
			 2005 23 11 
			 2006 10 3 
			 2007 20 6 
			 (1) These data are on the principal offence basis.  (2 )Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts, and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used.  (3) Includes the following statutes and corresponding offence descriptions: Wilfully killing badger Wilfully injuring badger Wilfully taking badger Wilfully attempting to kill badger Wilfully attempting to injure badger Wilfully attempting to take badger Ill-treating badger Digging for badger Selling live badger Offering to sell live badger Unlawfully marking badger Unlawfully attaching ring tag or marking device to badger Possessing or controlling thing derived from dead badger Possessing or controlling live badger Failing to comply with condition of licence.   Source:  OCJRE  A: Office for Criminal Justice ReformEvidence and Analysis Unit.

INNOVATION, UNIVERSITIES AND SKILLS

Charity Research Support Fund

Adam Afriyie: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how much funding his Department allocated to the Charity Research Support Fund in each year since its creation; and what planned expenditure on the fund is for each year to 2012.

David Lammy: The Department provides funding via the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE). HEFCE's quality related (QR) block grant for research to higher education institutions includes a charity support element. This element is calculated by reference to charitable research income, but is distributed as part of the QR block grant rather than as a separate fund.
	Current and historic amounts of QR allocated this way are as follows:
	
		
			   million 
			  Academic year  2006-07  2007-08  2008-09 
			 England total 135.5 180.0 184.9 
		
	
	The amount to be allocated for 2009-10 and any subsequent year will be determined by HEFCE in due course, having regard to the resources available for distribution at the time.
	Further details of the method of allocation of QR is available in the HEFCE publication 'Funding higher education in England: How HEFCE allocates its funds'.

Climate Change

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what assessment his Department has made of its capacity to adapt to climate change; and what plans he has to publish a climate change adaptation strategy.

David Lammy: The cross-Government Adapting to Climate Change Programme increases Government's capacity to adapt by ensuring a coordinated approach across all Departments and the public sector. This includes implementation of the adaptation aspects of the Climate Change Act, such as development of the national climate risk assessment. Information about the programme can be found at:
	www.defra.gov/adaptation
	Work already undertaken by DIUS that will help us to build our capability to adapt to climate change includes: supporting the research councils' living with environmental change initiative; a 1 billion interdisciplinary research and policy partnership programme; convening a high level forum tasked with using cutting edge business practice to align the skills system behind the challenges and opportunities of a low carbon, resource efficient economy; and publishing the Science and Innovation White Paper including proposals on fostering private and public sector innovation which will help us to identify technological and social solutions needed for climate change adaptation and mitigation.

Departmental ICT

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what the cost was of buying  (a) laptops,  (b) mobile telephones and  (c) personal digital assistant devices for new Ministers in his Department and its predecessors following each change in Ministers since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

Si�n Simon: Following a competitive procurement exercise run by the Cabinet Office, DIUS adopted the Public Sector Flex contract with Fujitsu Services. Under this contract every member of the Department, including the ministerial team, has been issued with a lightweight, encrypted laptop in place of a desktop PC. The laptops are leased from Fujitsu under the terms of the contract. Mobile phones are supplied to the Department as part of a corporate contract that includes rental and call costs. The cost of a Blackberry device used by Ministers in DIUS is 100. Three Ministers have made use of this facility since the creation of DIUS.

Departmental Official Hospitality

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how much his Department spent on Ministerial hospitality in each financial year since his Department was established.

Si�n Simon: According to our records the following has been spent on ministerial hospitality since the creation of DIUS in June 2007:
	
		
			
			 2007-08 5,206.5 
			 2008-09 4,628.49 
		
	
	All spending on official entertainment is made in accordance with the principles set out in Managing Public Money.

Departmental Temporary Employment

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills with reference to the answer of 29 October 2008,  Official Report, column 1129W, on departmental temporary employment, how many staff were recruited through each company in each year; and for how long on average staff recruited through these companies worked for the Department in each year.

Si�n Simon: In the Department, the number of people that have been employed through the agencies each year are as follows:
	
		
			   Reed  Hays  Total 
			 July 2007 to December 2007 6 4 10 
			 January 2008 to October 2008 11 9 20 
			 Total 17 13 30 
		
	
	Information on the average duration of appointments could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Education Maintenance Allowance

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how much the average education maintenance allowance payment to eligible undergraduate students was in  (a) 2005-06,  (b) 2006-07 and  (c) 2007-08.

David Lammy: Undergraduate students are not eligible to receive the education maintenance allowance (EMA).
	The EMA is for 16 to 19-year-olds in a programme of full-time further education, up to level 3, that meets the criteria for valid provision as determined by the Learning and Skills Council.

Education: Prisons

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how much  (a) per prisoner and  (b) in total was spent on providing education in prisons in each of the last five years.

Si�n Simon: The information requested in the question is not collected centrally.
	The Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills' total budget for offender skills and employment includes allocations for prison libraries and Heads of Learning and Skills. Taking that total budget, and including funds passed to the Youth Justice Board for education in young offender institutions, and dividing by the prison population at 30 June each year, produces an average spend per prisoner.
	The average amount spent per prisoner on education by this Department is set out in the following table.
	
		
			  Financial year  Average cost per prisoner  Total budget ( million) 
			 2003-04 1,560 116 
			 2004-05 1,552 116 
			 2005-06 1,836 141 
			 2006-07 1,858 146 
			 2007-08 1,966 156

Higher Education: Admissions

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many students who were formerly children in care were admitted to a university in 2007.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: I have been asked to reply.
	The information requested is not collected centrally by the Department.
	Information on children looked after by local authorities is collected through the SSDA903 data collection. This collection includes information on children who are looked after, children who are adopted and children who were looked after and have left care. This information has been published in the Statistical First Release Children looked after in England (including adoption and care leavers) year ending 31 March 2008 (SFR 23/2008), which is available on the Department's website via the following link:
	http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000810/index.shtml
	Table G1 contains information on children aged 19 who were previously looked after aged 16 and gives details of their activity at aged 19 which includes numbers and percentages in higher education.

Higher Education: Admissions

Rob Marris: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills 
	(1)  how many higher education institutions had agreed access targets with the Office for Fair Access in  (a) 2005-06,  (b) 2006-07 and  (c) 2007-08;
	(2)  how many higher education institutions were subject to sanctions by the Office for Fair Access for failing to meet agreed access targets in  (a) 2005-06,  (b) 2006-07 and  (c) 2007-08.

David Lammy: A higher education institution (HEI) must have in place an access agreement validated by the Director for Fair Access if they wish to charge variable fees. All such access agreements entered into by higher education institutions (HEIs) include indicators to measure progress in widening access. In the first academic year of variable fees (2006-07) 124 HEIs offering full-time publicly funded undergraduate provision had an access agreement. This rose to 128 in 2007-08.
	The Director for Fair Access assesses for each year whether each institution has complied with the terms of its access agreement, and where he finds this is not the case he is empowered to impose sanctions. In his assessment for 2006-07, he found that all institutions were compliant with their access agreements, and therefore the issue of sanctions does not arise. The Director expects to publish his conclusions for 2007-08 early next year.

Higher Education: Kent

Howard Stoate: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what assessment his Department has made of the merits of creating a higher education facility in the Kent Thameside growth area; and if he will make a statement.

David Lammy: We said in our new University Challenge document published in March that locally-focused higher education not only has a role in reversing economic decline but can also be a major component of strategies of population growth, ensuring that new development has access to sources of skills and innovation. The Higher Education Funding Council for England is now looking at the responses to consultation on our new University Challenge policy but it is already clear that this is going to be a very successful policy, which has generated interest in all parts of the country. Decisions on which proposals should be supported will be exclusively for the Council.

Large Hadron Collider

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what recent reports he has received on the operation of the Large Hadron Collider; and if he will make a statement.

David Lammy: CERN has recently completed its analysis of the incident that occurred in the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) on 19 September which led to a large leak of helium and damage to a number of magnets. CERN has confirmed that the likely cause was a defective electrical connection between two of the LHC's magnets. CERN is now undertaking the necessary repairs to the LHC, and introducing additional precautionary measures so as to avoid further large helium release incidents. The repairs should be completed by end of June 2009.

Learning and Skills Council: Reorganisation

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what the status of Learning and Skills Council (LSC) local partnerships will be following the reorganisation of the LSC.

Si�n Simon: The White Paper 'Raising Expectations: enabling the system to deliver', set out proposals to ensure that the needs of learners (young people and adults) and employers are met by a more responsive system. Responsibility for the planning, commissioning and funding for education and training for 16 to 19 year-olds will transfer to local authorities, supported by a new Young People's Learning Agency. For adults we propose to build on the demand led approach, including through the creation of a new Skills Funding Agency and strengthened advice and support services for adults and employers.
	In respect of young people, local partnerships, such as the 14-to-19 Partnerships and Children's Trusts, are all being strengthened ahead of the dissolution of the LSC. At the same time the Government are working to develop stronger local area agreements and multi-area agreement proposals to ensure that all partners are clear on roles, responsibilities and outcomes. Building stronger links between local, regional and national bodies is vital to ensure the outcomes for young people, adults and employers are continuously improved. That is why local authorities will be expected to work collaboratively with one another supported by a slim-line Young People's Learning Agency.
	In respect of adult skills, the Skills Funding Agency will also work with and develop existing local partnerships. It will work, for example, in partnership with the Young People's Learning Agency, regional skills and employment boards and other local and regional skills bodies to respond quickly and flexibly to national, regional and local skills needs, including drawing up statements of regional priorities and ensuring that these are reflected in multi-area agreements and local area agreements. The SFA will also work with regional development agencies and local authorities in relation to economic development and worklessness.
	We are also encouraging colleges and learning providers to co-operate with each other and with other key partners in order to meet the needs of employers in relation to skills training, and also to ensure that local strategic skills needs are met.
	Our proposals will require legislation, which will be introduced early in 2009, as part of the Children, Skills and Learning Bill. Until the new arrangements are in place, the Learning and Skills Council will continue to be responsible for securing the effective delivery of post 16 learning. More detail on the pre-19 proposals can be accessed via this link,
	http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/publications/14-19nextsteps/.
	More detail on the Skills Funding Agency can be found in the recently published 'Adult Skills Reforms: An Update', accessible via this link:
	http://www.dius.gov.uk/policy/raising_expectations.html.

Music: Copyright

Janet Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what discussions he has had with musicians and their representatives on the Draft Copyright Term Directive.

David Lammy: The Department discusses this issue regularly with representatives of the music industry, including with musicians' and performers' representatives.

Overseas Students: Scholarships

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills if he will place in the Library a copy of correspondence with overseas counterparts on Commonwealth scholarship funding.

David Lammy: I have not had any correspondence with my counterparts in other countries on the subject of Commonwealth scholarships.

Overseas Students: Scholarships

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what recent discussions he has had with the Higher Education Funding Council for England on its overseas research student award scheme.

David Lammy: I have not had any discussions with the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) about the Overseas Research Student Award Scheme (ORSAS). Following a full evaluation of the effectiveness of the scheme, HEFCE decided earlier this year that continued investment after 2010/11 could not be justified given other competing priorities for funding.

Part-time Education: Grants

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills 
	(1)  what grants are available to students studying part-time at a higher education institution;
	(2)  what the maximum grant available for students studying part-time at a higher education institution is;
	(3)  what financial aid is available for individuals studying part-time at a higher education institution to cover living expenses for the duration of the course;
	(4)  what advice on fees is available to individuals wishing to study part-time for a degree at a higher education institution.

David Lammy: Two non-repayable grants are available to part-time students: a grant for fees and a course grant which is intended to cover the cost of books and travel. In 2008/09 the maximum fee grant is 1,180 for students who study at a rate equivalent to 75 per cent. or more of a full-time course. The maximum course grant is 255. The financial support package for part-time students has been specifically designed for them and recognizes that the needs of part-time and full-time students are not the same. Unlike full-time students, the majority of part-time students are in full-time employment, with 36 per cent. receiving full support for their fees from their employer. Therefore statutory funding for part-time students is not intended to cover living expenses. Fees for part-time courses are unregulated, thus fees will vary both from institution to institution and from course to course. Part-time students are therefore advised to get information on course fees by contacting the institution at which they want to study.

Performance Report

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills when he expects his Department's Performance Report for 2008 to be published.

Si�n Simon: The Department published its 2008 Autumn Performance Report on 11 December. The report is available at:
	http://www.dius.gov.uk/publications/documents/Corporate/Corporate_strategy-Reports/APR_2008 final_version_in_pdf_format.pdf.

Students: Fees and Charges

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills 
	(1)  when he plans to publish the terms of reference for the tuition fees review; and whether he expects the review to report before the end of 2009;
	(2)  how long he expects the tuition fees review to take.

David Lammy: The then Secretary of State for Education and Skills, my right hon. Friend the Member for Norwich, South (Mr. Clarke) has already published draft terms of reference for the review in his statement to the House in January 2004. These include the rates of return and patterns of subsequent employment of those who paid variable fees. The assurances we have previously given this House made clear that there would be an independent review of tuition fees, reporting to the House, once we had evidence on the first three years of the variable fee regime. The first three years of operation will not be concluded until autumn next year. The timing and duration of the review will enable us to fulfil the commitment given to the House in 2004 that there will be no vote before 2010 at the earliest, and to enable the review to present Parliament with an evidence-based report covering the full range of the issues it has been asked to consider through its terms of reference.

Students: Finance

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many students will be affected by recent changes to the maintenance grant system.

David Lammy: The changes announced by my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State, will affect only those students starting courses in 2009/10: no current students will be affected.

Students: Loans

Paul Rowen: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many students were in receipt of reduced student loans due to the availability of means-tested NHS bursaries in each of the last five years.

David Lammy: Students who attend NHS funded degree courses in: medicine or dentistry (from year 5 on the undergraduate course and year 2 on the postgraduate course), chiropody (including podiatry), dietetics, occupational therapy, orthoptics, physiotherapy, prosthetics and orthotics, radiography, audiology, speech and language therapy; dental hygiene or dental therapy; nursing or midwifery are eligible for a non-repayable means-tested NHS bursary, which can be supplemented by a reduced maintenance loan.
	The reduced maintenance loan is not income assessed but the amount is dependent on location of study.
	The following table shows the number of English domiciled students who have received a reduced maintenance loan.
	
		
			  Academic Year  Number of s tudents 
			 2004/05 23,600 
			 2005/06 25,400 
			 2006/07 28,500 
			 2007/08 31,900 
			  Note:  Table includes students who may have suspended or withdrawn from their course. Figures for 2003/04 are unavailable.

Students: Loans

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills if he will consider reducing the interest rate applied to student loans to mirror the recent reduction in the Bank of England base rate; and if he will make a statement.

David Lammy: The legislative provisions for income contingent repayment student loans require that the rate of interest must: (i) be no higher than is necessary to maintain the value of the loan in real terms; and (ii) not exceed 1 per cent. above the highest of the base rates of a specified group of banks(1) (the 'low interest cap'). The interest rate is normally set every September to equal the retail prices index for the previous Marchcurrently 3.8 per cent. Following the reduction in the Bank of England base rate by the Monetary Policy Committee on 4 December 2008, all the specified banks have reduced their base rates to 2 per cent. and the low interest cap comes into play. The Student Loans Company (SLC) have therefore reduced the interest rate for income contingent loans from 3.8 per cent. to 3 per cent. with effect from 5 December 2008 until further notice. The SLC have published this information on their website and in national newspapers.
	The interest rate for loans taken out before 1998 (known as 'mortgage style loans') is not affected as these loans are governed by different legislation.
	(1) Bank of England; Bank of Scotland; Barclays Bank plc; Clydesdale Bank plc; Co-operative Bank plc; Coutts and Co.; HSBC Bank plc; Lloyds TSB Bank plc; Natwest Bank plc; the Royal Bank of Scotland plc.